“Easy now, we’re almost there,” came from Jerry.
At that moment the door of the hut opened, and a man looked out. The boys, with wildly beating hearts, crouched down. They feared they had been discovered.
“See anything?” called some one from inside the hut.
“No,” was the answer, “I thought I heard some one at the boats, but I guess it was the tide swinging the sloop. Looks like a storm. Hope we’ll get one by to-morrow night. It’ll be just what we need,” and the man re-entering the hut, closed the door.
For a few seconds after this the boys remained silent in the grass.
“Lucky escape, that,” murmured Bob. “Five seconds more and he’d caught us.”
Cautiously they resumed the progress toward the boat. Nearer and nearer they came until Jerry, who was in the lead, was able to step over the side into it. Ned and Bob followed. The latter grasped a boat-hook and stood ready to fend off when the start was made. Ned and Jerry cut the bow and stern lines with which the Dartaway was made fast to the little dock. They worked quickly and silently.
Jerry turned on the gasolene, and waited a few seconds to allow it to fill the carburettor, as the boat had not been run in several hours. Then he switched on the spark.