"You can go, Richard," answered Captain Putnam. "But be careful and keep out of trouble." "Can I take Tom and Sam with me?" At this the master of Putnam Hall smiled broadly. "Always like to be together, eh? All right, I don't know but what it will be safer for the three of you to go together," he said; and Dick lost no time in telling his brothers. In a few minutes the trio set off for the Stanhope cottage, little dreaming of the long time that was to elapse before they should see Putnam Hall again. CHAPTER XV DICK'S BRAVERY AND ITS REWARD The three Rover boys reached the Stanhope cottage on a run, to find nobody in charge but a washwoman, who was hanging up some clothing in the back yard. Explaining the situation so far as was necessary, they went inside and hunted up the note Mrs. Stanhope had mentioned. "I believe that is Dan Baxter's writing," said Dick slowly. "It is," came from Sam. "I know it from the flourishes on the capitals. He was always great on flourishes." "We won't waste time here," went on Dick. "Let us go down to the old boathouse." They were soon on the way, along a road lined with brush and scrubby cedars, the trees which in years gone by had given Cedarville its name. At the old boathouse everything was quiet and not a soul was in sight. Walking to the end of the house float they gazed out on the lake. "Not a boat anywhere," murmured Dick. "Now, what could have become of Dora, do you suppose?" "It's ten to one that Baxter took her off in Mumps' boat!" cried Tom. "By jinks, I think I see through this. Don't you remember the plot Josiah Crabtree and Mumps were hatching? I'll wager they are all in this, to get Dora away from her mother." "I believe Tom is right," came from Sam. "And if that is true, Dora was taken off on a boat beyond a doubt.' "If she was it won't take very long to find her," returned Dick. "Let us go to Cedarville and see if anybody has seen the _Falcon_." Dick had scarcely spoken when a small steam tug hove into sight, bound up the lake. "There's a tug now!" exclaimed Tom. "Hi there! Hi!" he yelled. "Stop!" The captain of the tug heard him and saw him waving his hand, and, slowing up, made a half circle toward shore. "What's wanted, young man?" he asked. "Anything wrong?" "Yes, a good deal is wrong," replied Tom. "Have you seen a yacht named the _Falcon_ today?" "No, but I saw her late yesterday afternoon," was the reply. "Around here?" "No, further down the lake. I think she was bound for Cayuga." "Did you notice who was on board?" "You seem to be very particular about it." "We are particular. A young lady has disappeared, and we think she was taken away on that yacht," explained Dick, as the steam tug came to a halt. "Is that so? Yes, I did see a young lady on board of her. She called to our boat as we passed, but I thought it was only in fun."