Faster and faster went the propellers. The motor-ship gathered way. It was sliding over the surface now on the hydroplanes, which were like little boats, or the runners of an ice yacht. More and more speed did the Comet develop.
“I guess she’ll do it,” murmured Jerry. “I’ll tilt the elevation rudder in a few seconds and then—well, we’ll see what will happen.”
He looked ahead over the water course. The craft was making considerable progress then, in a straight line. Jerry reached for the lever that controlled the rudder which would send them aloft. He glanced at the speed register and noted that they had not yet reached sufficient momentum.
Suddenly, from the lee of a large sailing yacht that had come to anchor out of the path of the Comet to watch the test, there shot a rowboat containing a girl and a lady. Right in the path of the oncoming motor-ship was the small boat.
“Look out!” yelled Jerry through a megaphone.
“Pull to one side,” added Ned, though they could not hear his voice above the noise of the engine.
“Row out! Row to one side!” cried Jerry again. “We’ll run you down! We can’t steer to the right or left without capsizing!”
This was true, for to swerve the motor-ship off a straight course at the speed at which she was going would have meant disaster.
“Look out! Look out!” yelled Jerry desperately, waving his arms in warning. The sailors on the yacht now added their voices to those aboard the Comet, and the woman and girl became confused. Each one had an oar, and they were not pulling together.