In accordance with this idea, the three boys landed and, leaving Uncle Zeke in charge of the boat and the bear, with instructions to answer Alex’s call from the south bank, they took their way to the bight in which the Rambler lay. They had only a shore distance to go, and were soon within a few feet of the motor boat, which lay within a couple of yards of the shore.
From the position they now occupied, they could see a dilapidated old houseboat lying beyond the Rambler, her nose resting lightly on the bank.
“That’s where the pirates have been living!” whispered Case. “If we could only do something to drive them back to the old hulk, we might possibly get the Rambler away.”
All remained dark and silent on board the motor boat, still the boys knew that the men on board were awake and alert. They had seen the prow light turned on when farther up the cut-off, and only a few moments before a light had shone in the cabin.
The boys waited for what seemed to them an hour or more, watching and listening, hoping for Alex’s return, and hoping, too, for some indication of the intentions of the pirates.
“We’ve just got to make a break pretty soon,” Jule said. “I believe those fellows on board the boat know that we’re in the vicinity. They’re not asleep, and they wouldn’t be sitting there in the dark unless they were suspicious.”
“If you boys will stay here,” Clay suggested, “I’ll attempt to gain the after deck of the Rambler. If I succeed, I may be able to drive the pirates out of the boat.”
“I was just thinking of that myself!” whispered Case.
“You remain here,” Clay went on, “and I’ll see what can be done.”
The words were hardly out of his mouth before the “chug, chug, chug,” of motors was heard, and the Rambler, still showing no lights, glided softly upstream!