"Too many cooks spoil the broth," explained Chet. "You'll need all the speed you can get out of that boat to catch him. We'd only delay you."
Chet was eager to join in the chase, but he realized that the fewer passengers Tony's boat carried, the better would be their chance of capturing the fugitive. The other boys quickly took their cue from his attitude and declared that they would remain behind also.
"We'll telephone to Barmet village," suggested Chet. "Perhaps a boat can put out from there and head him off."
His remarks were drowned in the roar of the engine, as Tony's motorboat began to back slowly out into deeper water. It left the boathouse, then Tony turned the wheel and the motorboat headed about for the open bay.
"Now I guess you wish the Sleuth wasn't faster than my boat," he said, with a grin. "We'll have trouble catching him."
He opened the throttle, and the motorboat leaped ahead, leaving a widening trail of foaming water behind.
The white shape of the stolen craft could be seen far out in the bay. Paul Blum was losing no time, and it was evident that his method of escape had not yet been discovered by the police, as Tony's craft was the only boat in pursuit. It was doubtful, too, if the fugitive realized as yet that he was being pursued.
"I'll let her out as fast as she'll go," said Tony, suiting the action to the word.
The boat was drumming along at a high rate of speed and it soon became apparent that they were gaining on the Sleuth. This was evidently because Paul Blum thought his flight had passed unnoticed and did not feel it necessary to run the craft at its highest speed.
"If we can only sneak up behind him before he knows we're after him, we'll have a chance," said Joe.