The two lads left the shelter of the rocks and began moving cautiously toward the beach. They realized that there was every chance that the mysterious craft might be one of the gangsters' boats and that they would be risking recapture by making their presence known. But, on the other hand, it might be the Hardy boys returning in an effort to pick them up.
They had gone no more than a few yards when a loud voice only a short distance away made them jump with surprise:
"Is that one of our boats, Pete?"
"No. I don't know it at all. There's something funny about this."
A rock clattered down the slope. Chet looked back. Two dark figures appeared in sight at the top of the declivity.
The two parties saw one another at the same time.
"Here they are!" roared one of the men, and he plunged down the slope straight at the astonished boys.
The other man came running after him. The first impulse of the two chums was to run, but they saw that flight would be useless. They were midway on the hillside leading to the beach and the path was treacherous with rocks and loose gravel. They would be overtaken in a moment.
"Fight 'em!" said Chet, gritting his teeth.
The boys stood their ground. The two gangsters, one of whom they recognized as Pete, came floundering down the slope. They had started out in such a rush that now they were not well able to stop, and as the pair came at them the two chums braced themselves for the shock.