"Hark! I hear a motor boat now!" cried Ben. "It must be behind those overhanging trees."
"Here it comes," said Roger. "I declare, it's Poole's boat and he and Merwell have several young ladies aboard!"
As the motor boat came closer the boys saw that the young ladies were Vera Rockwell, Mary Feversham, and a stranger.
"I didn't know those girls would go out with Poole and Merwell," was Phil's comment.
"Nor I," added Roger.
The motor boat had been headed almost directly for the rowboat, but as soon as Merwell recognized those in the smaller craft he turned to his crony and said something in a whisper, and then the motor boat was turned in another direction.
"Motor boat, ahoy!" cried Ben.
To this hail Poole and Merwell paid no attention. Poole was steering and the bully was at the engine, and the latter advanced the spark and turned on more gasoline, in order to increase the speed of the craft.
"Oh, it's Mr. Lawrence!" cried Mary Feversham.