"Rats!" remarked Spike.
But he shifted the course, just the same. We drew away from the strange yacht for about three minutes, and then,—
"Sh-She's c-coming about!" shouted Spook.
She certainly was coming about. In a few seconds she was headed for us once again.
"I d-don't know about you f-fellows, b-but I'll never b-be t-taken alive. It's those d-d-d-duffers from B-Bailey's Harbor again,— they've p-probably got c-c-cannon on b-board this t-time!"
Spike sat in silence, looking back at the stranger now and then.
After about five minutes he said:
"They're not gaining on us much."
It was hard to tell whether they gained or not. As far as I could see there had not been any change in the distance between us since the other boat came about. There was a good breeze and both boats were now running before it.
"L-Let's c-clear away this g-g-grub,—we want r-room to r-repel b-b-boarders."
"We won't have to repel them," said I, "they can't catch us."