However, gratitude was not to be expected of such boys as Buck and his friends. They drew off sullenly to the stern of the Sea Bird, and as for the radio boys, they wasted no more breath on them. They headed directly for the mouth of the little creek leading to the wireless station, and as they came within the sheltering headlands of the bay the sea became less rough and gradually lessened in violence as they entered more shallow waters.
As they went out that morning, the radio boys had taken special note of conspicuous landmarks, so that they had little difficulty in locating the inlet. Bob throttled the engine down to a low speed, and they were soon creeping up the quiet waters of the creek that were in striking contrast to the turbulent seas outside.
Mr. Harvey had left the doors of the boathouse open, so the boys nosed the Sea Bird carefully into its berth, Herb and Jimmy standing by with fenders to keep it from bumping against the timbers and taking off paint.
Bob had hardly shut off the engine before Buck Looker and Terry and Lutz, without a word of thanks or even saying good-bye, leaped ashore and made off.
“Oh, well, it’s good riddance,” said Jimmy cheerfully. “I’m sure we don’t want them hanging around.”
“I suppose they felt sore about losing their boat,” said Bob. “But they could hardly blame us for that. It was they who proposed to race.”
“And they got all the race they wanted,” said Joe. “Isn’t this boat a little peacherino, though?”
“It’s a wonder,” said Bob. “I’d almost be willing to undertake a trip to Europe in it. I’ll bet she’d make it all right.” The others agreed with him in this estimate of the Sea Bird’s prowess, and they discussed her many virtues as they cleaned up the decks and made everything neat and shipshape. This accomplished, they proceeded to the wireless station, where they met their friend just coming off duty.
“Well, how did you enjoy yourselves?” he questioned. “Did the boat act up all right?”
“I should say she did!” said Bob, and gave him a brief account of the day’s happenings.