CHAPTER XX 

A MINUTE TOO LATE 

"Well, this looks like a wild goose chase, Dick." 

It was Sam who spoke, from the bow of the motor-boat. For over two hours they had been moving up the Hudson River, slowly, scanning one shore and the other with care. They had noted many boats, but nothing that looked like the schooner for which they were so eagerly searching. 

"They had a pretty good start of you," said John Slater, the owner of the motor-boat. "Maybe they are up to Nyack or Haverstraw by this time." 

"Well, all we can do is to keep on and watch out," said Tom, with a sigh. His disposition, for fun seemed to have entirely left him. 

Another half hour went by, and they came in sight of a number of lumber barges, all heavily loaded. The barges were being towed by a big tug. 

"I know the captain of that tug," said John Slater. "We might ask him about the schooner." 

"A good idea," answered Dick. 

They were soon close to the steam tug and the motor-boat owner waved his hand to the captain of the larger craft, who waved in return. 

"I want to find a schooner named the Ellen Rodney!" shouted John Slater. "Did you pass her, Captain Voss?" 

"I did," was the answer. "She was opposite Nyack, heading in to shore." 

"Opposite Nyack!" exclaimed Dick, "How far is that from here?" 

"Not more than two miles," answered John Slater, as he turned his motor-boat up the river again. 
How long had they been looking?
over two hours