There came a welcome chug-chug and then a throb of the motor. Jerry threw in the reverse gear. The water at the stern was churned into foam as the screw revolved. Slowly the Dartaway backed off the sand bar and into a deeper channel. Then Jerry threw in the forward speed and the craft shot ahead.
“Hurrah!” cried the boys. “We’re off!”
“It’s lucky you discovered that rat,” said Jerry to Alice, “or we might have stayed there all night.”
Bob lighted the search lamp, as it had grown quite dark, and the shaft of glaring whiteness shone on the black river. Jerry speeded up the boat, and it went down the stream toward Cresville at a rapid pace.
[CHAPTER V]
PLANNING A CRUISE
Ned was steering, and, having passed two or three large craft he put the boat over to the Cresville side of the river, to gain the advantage of the better current. He was peering ahead into the darkness, lighted up by the slender pencil of fire from the search lantern, when he suddenly made an explanation, and threw the steering-wheel over so quickly that the Dartaway careened to one side.
“Look out!” cried Ned. “Slow her down, Jerry! There’s a boat ahead!”
Before Jerry could do this, however, the motor boat rushed past some dark object in the water. There was a crash and splintering of wood, and the occupants of the Dartaway dimly saw a man crouching in the bottom of a small boat as they rushed past.