“I just believe she’s going to get there first!” Jule said drawing still farther away to port. “Can’t you make her go any faster, Clay?”
“Every pound of power is on!” Clay replied. “You boys would better be getting your guns ready. If we come together they may try to board us. If you shoot, shoot to some purpose.”
“We ain’t a-going to come together!” Jule whispered to Alex, who now occupied a position at his side. “At least, we’re not going to come together so they can jump over on our deck.”
“What are you going to do?” Alex asked. “Look here!” Jule queried. “The Rambler’s sides and prow are braced with steel, aren’t they?”
“You know it!” Alex answered with a chuckle as he began to understand the purpose of his chum.
“Well, then,” Jule declared, “I’m going to ram her! If that steamer gets her nose in our way, I’m going to send the Rambler plumb through her. I wonder how they’ll like that?”
“If you do,” Alex advised, “reverse the minute you strike. If you don’t, you are likely to get wedged into any hole you may make.”
“I tell you I’m going to send the Rambler clear through her!” insisted Jule. “I’m going to bang her with all the force of the motors.”
“Go to it!” Alex exclaimed. “I’m game for any racket of that kind. Only don’t you say anything to Clay about it. He’d be afraid of breaking the motors or something.”
The Rambler was now almost to the entrance. The steamer was still moving upstream. As the boys looked the prow of the whiskey boat turned almost directly into the path which the motor boat must follow in order to leave the lagoon.