"If it's the same boat and if the same men are in it, we should be safe enough as long as they don't recognize us. They saw us that day, but they've never seen the Sleuth. We'll get as close to them as we can."
But the other craft had increased its speed. It was a powerful boat and a high curl of foam now rose from its bows as it plunged through the waves in a rapid flight toward the mainland in the distance. The roar of the engine was borne to the boys' ears on the breeze.
"We're going to lose them," muttered Frank. "They're too far ahead of us, unless we want to cut in and meet them right near the land."
"That will only make them suspicious."
"Yes, I guess we'd better let them go."
Still, he did not give up the attempt just then, opening the throttle so that the Sleuth was racing along at top speed. But the other boat had the advantage, and cut across their course with a quarter of a mile to spare. Joe gazed through the binoculars, striving to identify the two men.
"No use," he remarked, at last. "The fellow at the wheel is turned away from us, and the other man is bending down in the boat so I can't see his face."
"Is it the same boat?"
"I can't be positive. But I think so. It certainly looks very much like it."
"I'm almost sure. Of course, there might be lots of other motorboats just like it—but I've got a hunch that it's the same craft."