“I believe Ritter would do anything. He is bound to make the Alice lose that race.”
Several minutes went by, and the two prisoners heard those outside walking from end to end of the sloop. Then came a sudden jar, followed by another.
“Hi! Paxton is overboard!” they heard Coulter yell.
“I didn’t think we’d hit those rocks so hard,” answered Reff Ritter.
“Now is our time to get out—if we can!” cried Pepper. “If we break the door we can have it mended.”
Both boys braced themselves against the walls of the cuddy and put their shoulders to the door. It could not stand this strain and in a few seconds began to crack. Then it flew outward, over the rope with which it had been held in, and the cadets followed. They saw Coulter and Ritter at the bow, bending over to assist Paxton, who was wading in water up to his neck.
“They are loose!” yelled Coulter, but ere he could say more Andy grabbed him and pushed him overboard. Pepper caught Ritter and got that young rascal partly over the rail, but there he clung.
“Help me, Andy!” cried Pepper, and Andy did so by putting his foot on Ritter’s hand. The bully gave a yell, and a moment later went over backward with a loud splash.
The Alice had struck several half-submerged rocks, but had not gone upon them. The craft was now drifting further up the lake, leaving Ritter, Paxton and Coulter behind.
“Ho there!” roared Paxton, “don’t leave us!”