The motor boat was now almost upon the other craft.
CHAPTER IX
A NARROW ESCAPE
"Give a yell!" suggested Vincent.
"What for?" panted Bert, as he struggled with the oars, trying to swing the boat out of danger. "There's nobody aboard to steer the boat out of the way."
But Vincent yelled anyhow, and, to the surprise of the boys, a figure suddenly showed itself in the motor boat. It was that of a man, and he had been lying down in the craft, adjusting some of the machinery while the engine was running.
His sudden exclamation, as he sat up on hearing Vincent's yell, showed that he was not aware how close he was to a collision. He jumped to his feet, leaped forward to the wheel, and with a few quick turns sent his boat to one side.
And it was only just in time, for the freeboard of his craft grazed the extended oars that Tom and Bert had thrust out to dip in the water, in order to further swing their boat around.
"I didn't see you!" exclaimed the man, as his boat rushed past. "I was fixing my engine. I'm sorry!"
"Whose boat is that?" asked Bert.