"Even so, nobody has a right to get crusty," murmured Plum.
"Or pious!" continued Dave, and then Shadow made a pass for him with a shoe box. Then Roger started to run, and the others came after him, and away they went in a merry bunch, along the road leading to Oak Hall. Soon they came out at a point where the highway ran along the Leming River, and there halted to rest, for the run had deprived some of them of their wind.
"I hear a motor-boat," said Roger. "Wonder if it is Nat Poole's craft?"
"It is!" answered Plum. "Here he comes, right close to shore!"
The river was a good fifteen feet below the level of the roadway, and gazing down through the bushes lining the water's edge, the students beheld Nat Poole's motor-boat gliding along in a zig-zag fashion. Nat was not in the craft, which was evidently running without an occupant.
CHAPTER XV
A RUNAWAY MOTOR-BOAT
"What do you make of that?"
"The motor-boat must have run away from Nat!"