The girl forward obeyed. Quickly she wound the coils about one of the oar locks, and held the loose end tightly.
“Hold on!” sung out Jerry.
With a quick motion he set the clutch for the first speed forward. The water at the stern of the Dartaway was churned into foam.
“We’re drifting back!” cried Bob from the stern. “We’ll go over the dam!”
“Here’s for full speed ahead!” cried Jerry as he threw the lever over to the last notch, and swung the gasolene and spark handles well forward.
The foam at the stern became thicker and whiter. The Dartaway trembled from bow to rudder. The rope creaked with the strain.
“Hurrah! We’re gaining!” cried Ned. “We’re moving!”
The powerful motor boat had triumphed over the current and was pulling the occupants in the small craft out of danger.