CHAPTER XXIII 

A RUN IN THE DARK 

Both girls were thoroughly alarmed by the unexpected appearance of Dan Baxter and his companion and brought their horses to a standstill. 

"How do you do, Miss Stanhope?" said Baxter, with a grin. 

"What are you doing here?" demanded Dora, icily. 

"Oh, nothing much." 

"Do you know that that is the Rovers' houseboat?" 

"Is it?" said Baxter, in pretended surprise. 

"Yes." 

"No, I didn't know it." Baxter turned to Nellie. "How are you, Miss Laning? I suppose you are surprised to meet me out here." 

"I am," was Nellie's short answer. Both girls wished themselves somewhere else. 

"My friend and I were walking down the river when we heard a man on that houseboat calling for help," went on Dan Baxter, glibly. "We went on board and found the captain had fallen down and hurt himself very much. Do you know anything about him?" 

"Why, yes!" said Dora, quickly. "It must be Captain Starr!" she added, to Nellie. 

"He's in a bad way. If you know him, you had better look after him," continued Dan Baxter. 

"I will," and Dora leaped to the ground, followed by Nellie. Both ran towards the houseboat, but at the gang plank they paused. 

"I--I think I'll go back and get Dick Rover," said Dora. She did not like the look in Dan Baxter's eyes. 

"Yes, and Tom," put in Nellie. 

"You shan't go back," roared Dan Baxter. "Go on and help the poor captain." 

His manner was so rude that Nellie gave a short, sharp scream--one which reached Tom's ears, as already recorded. 
How did they say he got injured?
 and found the captain had fallen down