"I see something around the bend!" cried Mark. "Unless I am mistaken, it's the scow!" "You are right, Mark. But we'll have to walk around a long distance to get to her. Here is a cove ahead." They left the river bank, intending to skirt the cove Bob had mentioned. The brushwood was thick, and further on they had to pass several low-hanging trees. "Hark!" called Mark, suddenly. "Am I mistaken, or did I hear a dog barking?" They listened, and made out the deep baying of a hound. Then came more baying from another hound. "Hounds, and they are after us!" said Bob. "I don't like this. They may not be friendly." "Here they come!" answered Mark, catching sight of the animals between the trees. "Gracious! I believe they are bloodhounds!" "Up into a tree with you, quick!" said Bob, and ran to the nearest limb. He swung himself up with ease and then pulled Mark after him. They had scarcely reached the top of the limb when two bloodhounds came running up, followed by a third and then a fourth. They were ugly-looking animals, and standing at the foot of the tree they glared up savagely at the boys. "Ugh! They mean business," said Mark. "Get away from here!" And he shook his hand at the dogs, which made them bay loudly and show their teeth. "Come on up to the next limb," said Bob, nervously. "I don't want any of those critters to sample me." And he climbed up and Mark did the same. "Bob, we're treed." "That's so. But the presence of the dogs must mean that a house is near." "I wish the owner of the dogs would come along and call them off." "Let us yell for help." Both raised their voices and called several times. Then the bloodhounds bayed for half a minute, but no answer came back. "If the owner is around he isn't paying much attention," said Mark, ruefully. "I'd like to know what the dogs will do next." "As they can't climb the tree they'll most likely stay below." "Yes, but for how long?" "That's a riddle I can't answer. Maybe they'll keep us here all night." "If I had a pistol I'd shoot the brutes!" "That might get us into more trouble. For all we know, we may be on private property. Most likely we are--if there is a house near." "Wish I was on that flatboat just about now." "Or the scow." The boys relapsed into silence, and seeing this, the bloodhounds took positions under the tree and proceeded to make themselves comfortable. "The imps are going to stay," said Mark, with a deep sigh. "Bob, we are booked for the night." "Yes, and in the meantime the scow may float further. I don't think she is caught very tightly. A change in the wind, or in the flow of water, may loosen her once more." "Do you think we can fool the dogs by climbing into the next tree?" "We can try it, but I don't think it will work." Without caution they went up to another limb and from this swung themselves gently into the next tree. They had hardly done so when the bloodhounds began to shift also.