“Well, I think Jerry’s right,” agreed Ned. “It seems that Bill has something to hide. I wonder what he’s always talking about something blue for?”
“Did you notice he always gets as far as the word ‘blue’?” asked Jerry. “Then he stops as if he was going to mention something more, but catches himself just in time.”
“I wonder if it’s blue diamonds, blue moon, or blue feelings,” spoke Bob.
“Maybe it’s a blue bird,” put in Ned with a laugh. Though he spoke off-hand the time was coming when his words were destined to be remembered with peculiar significance.
As the Dartaway was chugging along towards home on second speed the boys heard, from behind, the exhaust of another boat, that, to judge by the explosions, was coming along at a rapid clip.
“Hello!” exclaimed Jerry who was steering. “I didn’t know there were any other motor boats around here but ours and Noddy’s.”
“That’s a dandy, all right,” spoke Ned, as he looked the approaching craft over from bow to stern. “She is going some. I wonder if we could beat her. Try, Jerry.”
Jerry was not unwilling to have a little test of speed with the stranger craft. It came on steadily, the explosions making almost a continuous roar. In the boat which was soon opposite the Dartaway, were two men. The boat was new, and, in the gathering dusk the boys could read the name on the bow, Terror.
“Rather piratical,” said Ned in a low voice.
The men in the Terror glanced curiously at the Dartaway as the two craft came opposite. One of them spoke to the other in a low voice. Then the one at the wheel adjusted the engine and the Terror leaped ahead. The two boats were now on even terms.