“Shall we take after them?” asked Bob.
“What’s the use?” inquired Jerry. “We don’t want to leave our boat. Besides, if we did catch them, which is doubtful, owing to the darkness, what would we say?”
“We might ask them what they were talking about,” said Bob.
The retreating footsteps of Bill and Noddy were becoming fainter and fainter. Now they ceased altogether.
“Well, I guess we may as well start for home,” said Jerry. “We can’t gain anything by staying here.”
It was rather late when the motor boys got home after locking up the Dartaway. They did not go out again until Friday afternoon when they started for a park resort up stream.
The Dartaway was running to perfection, having been overhauled by the boys, the engine well oiled and some adjustments made. The motor was “finding itself” and was working more smoothly with every revolution. Obedient to helm and throttle the craft went spinning up the stream like some big river horse.
As the boys in the boat swung around a sharp bend, the turn being hidden by thick trees, they almost ran into a small schooner that was beating up against the wind.
“Look out!” cried Ned to Bob, who was steering.