"Now see here," said Bob, letting his captive up, "you hike out of here and what's more you keep away, see?"
"Yis and begorry," broke in Mike, "if I catch yees sneaking round here again sure and it's meself that'll be timpted to throw yees into the drink."
Muttering something about getting even, the two crestfallen boys slunk away.
"Now you byes go up to the house and go to bed," ordered Mike. "I'm agoing to sleep in the boathouse, and if them fellers come back here they'll think the auld bye hisself is after them."
"All right," agreed Bob, "I guess that will be the best plan. Come on, Jack, it is nearly 1 o'clock, and we have a big day's work ahead for tomorrow."
CHAPTER III.
THE STOLEN CAP.
"Say, Bob how fast do you suppose that new boat of the Jenkins boys will go?"
"I don't know, but she is sure some speeder and I tell you what, sonny, the Sprite has got to cut through the wet a whole lot faster than she ever did before if we are going to hang on to that blue ribbon."
It was late Friday afternoon, and Mike and the boys had just finished putting in the new motor.
"Jack," continued Bob, "you run up to the house and get those end caps, will you, while Mike and I run the boat out? Just as soon as it gets a little dark I want to give her a try-out."