“Do you think you can get me ashore first?” asked Larry.
“Well, he’s got a pretty good start,” said the captain, “but I never saw anything that could beat the Porpoise if you gave her half a show. We’ll see what we can do. Can you steer while I attend to the engines?”
“I guess so,” replied Larry.
“Better let me,” put in Tony. “I know the lay of the land better than you do.”
“Go ahead then,” said the captain. “I’ll speed her up for all she’s worth.”
He went back to the stern. The steady chug-chug of the motor, which had not ceased, was now increased threefold as the captain shifted various levers, let more gasolene into the cylinders and advanced the spark. Then, with Tony at the wheel, the Porpoise shot ahead, in an attempt to beat Peter to the shore.
How the swift craft cut through the water! A big wave arose on either side of the bow. The motors were exploding like a battery of gatling guns as the captain, in the role of engineer, opened the exhaust to clean out the cylinders. Then, shutting it down, the engine throbbed like a big turbine wheel under heavy pressure.
Nearer and nearer to the shore the craft forged. Peter, looking back, saw that Larry and Tony had been rescued and, in the fast boat, were bearing down on him.
“Row! Row!” he cried to Jim. “They’re going to run us down!”
“Don’t worry, they’re not as mean as you are,” said Jim.