But, had Ralph known it, it was to be many days before he would have an opportunity of seeing his father and telling him of the strange events of that night and those that were destined to succeed them.
The River Swallow lay motionless. All about was a black void. Of the gray motor boat nothing was to be seen or heard. In fact, not from the start of the chase, nor on any of the previous occasions that the boys had sighted her, did the motor craft that had proved so elusive and tricky make any sound. From this Ralph argued that she was equipped with an under-water exhaust, a device which silences the otherwise noisy explosions of a gasoline engine.
Harry Ware came back on deck.
“Sound as a dollar,” he reported.
“Good! I thought so, but dared not fail to have an investigation made,” rejoined Ralph.
“But, Ralph, what became of the other craft? What was she, a ghost or a submarine?”
“Neither.”
“What, then?”
“A solid, speedy craft just like this one.”
“But we struck her.”