The moving of the launch had caused the sunken tree trunk to turn partly over, and in this position two immense limbs caught the Dora tightly so that, although the houseboat swung broadside to the current, she could get no further.
"They are getting away from us!" cried Tom, as the Venus disappeared from view.
"Don't you dare to follow us any further," called out a voice from the darkness. "If you do, it will be at your peril!"
"It doesn't look as if we were going to follow them right away," grumbled Tom.
"Vos dose rascallions gone alretty?" questioned Hans, coming cautiously from the cabin.
"Yes."
"Dot's goot!"
The lanterns were lowered over the side of the houseboat, and after several minutes of inspection our friends located the source of the trouble.
"If we had the power to back away from that tree we'd be all right," observed Dick. "But as we haven't such power I do not know what we are going to do."
"Maybe we'll have to wait until morning," said Tom. "Then some passing boat can pull us away."
"And in the meantime those rascals will have a good chance to outwit us," said Sam, bitterly. "It's a shame!"
