"Oh, Dora, would they dare to do that?" And Nellie's face grew pale. Dora shrugged her shoulders by way of reply, and for the time being the cousins relapsed into silence. Both were thinking of their mothers and of the Rovers. What had the others said to their strange disappearance? "It is perfectly dreadful!" cried Nellie, at last, and burst into tears, and Dora followed. The crying appeared to do them some good and after half an hour they became more at ease. "We must escape if we possibly can, Nellie," said Dora. "We cannot afford to remain a moment longer on this houseboat than is necessary." "But how are we going to escape? It looks to me as if we were out in the middle of the river." "That is true. But both of us can row, and there is a small rowboat on board. If we could launch that and get away we might escape." "Well, I am willing to try it, if you think it can be done. But we must get out of this stateroom first." The two girls listened, but nobody appeared to be anywhere near them. "I can hear them talking in the kitchen," said Nellie. "More than likely they are getting something to eat." "I could eat something myself." "So could I. But I'd rather get away." Both looked for some means of getting out of the stateroom and suddenly Dora uttered a cry of delight. "Oh, why didn't I think of it before!" "Think of what?" "That key on the hook over there. It fits the door." "Then we can get out!" "If that other key isn't on the outside." Dora got down and looked through the keyhole. It was clear and she quickly inserted the key taken from the hook. It fitted perfectly, and in a second more the door was unlocked. "Wait,--until I make sure that nobody is around!" whispered Dora. She was so agitated she could scarcely speak. She opened the door cautiously and looked out. Not a soul was in sight. From the galley came a steady hum of voices and a rattle of pots and dishes. "They are too busy to watch us just now--the way is clear," she whispered. "Come on." "Let us lock the door behind us, and stuff the keyhole," answered Nellie. "Then they will think we are inside and won't answer." This was done, and with their hearts beating wildly the two girls stole to the end of the houseboat, where lay the small rowboat Dora had mentioned. CHAPTER XXVI THE SEARCH ON THE RIVER As may be surmised, the news which Dick and Tom had to tell to the others at the stock farm produced great excitement. "Dora and Nellie gone!" gasped Mrs. Stanhope. "Oh, Dick, what has become of them?" "They must have gotten into some trouble!" cried Mrs. Laning. "You found no trace of them?" "We did not," said Tom. "But we tried hard enough, I can assure you." "Oh, what shall we do?" wailed Mrs. Stanhope, and then she fainted away, and it was a good quarter of an hour before she could be restored. All the boys were highly excited, and Sam was for making a search for the missing houseboat without delay.