"The one wh-who owns this b-boat?"
"Yes."
"D-Do you c-call th-that all r-right?"
"Yes; we can explain, and fix it up. Come out of there,—we have got to tell them about Snider, and get them to help us drive him off."
The "White Rabbit" passed us as if we were standing still. One by one all those on board turned and waved their hands at me,—all except Jimmy Toppan, who was having too good a time with the sails to care for any person on earth. Presently they took in the spinnaker and came about.
I persuaded Spike to believe that these people were neither police nor crooks, nor anything else dangerous. I got him to come about, while I dropped the peak of the sail. We made no more attempt to escape, and in a few minutes the "White Rabbit" was alongside.
Then there had to be explanations. Everybody asked questions at once.
"What are you doing here, Sam?"
"Where'd you find the 'Hoppergrass'?"
"Why aren't you at Rogers's Island?"