"Hi! stop that, or we'll fire at you!" came from the launch, and then a pistol rang out and the ball whistled over the deck of the Dora.
"Are they really shooting at us?" asked Songbird, nervously, while
Hans sought the shelter of the cabin in a hurry.
"I reckon not," answered Harold Bird. "That was simply meant as a warning."
Those on the houseboat waited for several minutes and then, imagining the launch was turning to the shore, Dick prepared another rocket.
"Get behind the woodwork," he said. "They may take it into their heads to aim at us when this goes up."
All sheltered themselves and with a rush the second rocket flew skyward. It had not been aimed at the launch, yet it cut the water within a yard of the Venus' side, much to the alarm of those on board.
"They are trying to shoot us with rockets!" yelled Dan Baxter.
"Take that!" said Sack Todd, and fired point-blank at the houseboat. The bullet hit a pane of glass in the cabin window, and there was a jingle followed by a yell from Hans.
"Sthop dot! Ton't kill me! I ain't vos tone noddings alretty! Of you schoot me again I vos haf you but in prison for a hundred years, ain't it!"
"Are you hit, Hans?" questioned Dick, running to the German boy.