The next thing is to have an eye kept on every boat by the quay which may have a cabin or half-deck capable of concealing a person wrapped up and bound.
Also, that a watch should be set upon any fishing boat anchored in the river, or moored against the banks, for miles round.

It is very possible that she was carried on board, and that there she may be kept, close to us, for days, or even weeks, until the hotness of the search is over, and they can pass up or down the river without being stopped and overhauled." "We will have every boat at the quay searched at once; and boat parties shall be sent off to examine every craft at anchor or moored in the river." "I think, sir, that it behoves us to act with care," Rupert said; "for knowing the desperate nature of this villain, I think it probable that he would wreak his hate upon your daughter, and do some terrible crime when he found that he was discovered, for he knows that his life is already forfeit.

When we find out where she is confined, to my mind the serious difficulty only commences, for it is absolutely necessary that the arrest be so prompt and sudden, that he shall not have time even to level a pistol at her." Van Duyk acknowledged the justice of Rupert's reasoning.
"Hugh has suggested that it is likely that he has in his pay the same boatmen whom he employed last year to murder us.

As a first step, let one of your clerks go down with an officer to the quay, and inquire what boats left here yesterday or in the night.

Hugh will put on a rough fisherman's suit, and with his hat well down over his brows, will stroll along by the water, to see if he recognizes the face of any of the men." At eight o'clock in the morning there was a meeting of the council of the town, to determine upon the measures to be taken to discover the authors of this disgraceful outbreak, and to take steps for the recovery of the daughter of the leading citizen of the town.