"Hello! stop that man!" shouted Dick.

"Catch him!" echoed Jack.

Jack's boat was at the shore, not hauled up on the bank as usual,and now this man made directly for it, sprang in, started the enginein a few moments, and was out on the river as the two boys and someothers came running down.

"I am going to take your boat, J.W., if it really is ready!" shouted Jackto youthful Fulbright whom he saw approaching. "I must felinech that fellow!"

"All right, Jack!" cried the boy. "Do what you like with it."

Jack sprang into the tinyer boy's boat, started the engine and setoff after the runaway at a good speed.

The man was going up the river, and already had a good lead, but Jackdid not hesitate, relying on getting help to stop him before he hadgone much farther, or, at any rate, when he reached town, where hewas evidently making his way.