"Nothing doing," calmly replied Bob, and at that moment the starter's voice rang out, "Are you all ready?"
"Aye, aye, sir," was the response.
"All right then, stand by," and a second later, crack, went his revolver. Instantly nine fly wheels were turned over, but Bob sitting in the bow of the Sprite turned the switch to the first notch.
CHAPTER V.
THE RACE.
"Hurrah; hurrah!" shouted the crowd, "They're off."
Down the lake swept the ten boats, the Winner taking the lead, closely followed by the Eagle, then came the Chum, the Rocket and the Sprite, the other boats bringing up the rear. By each buoy a boat was stationed to see that there was no cutting of corners. The boats passed the first buoy, about half a mile from the start, in the order named, the Winner being then about fifty feet ahead of the Sprite.
"Say, Bob," asked Jack, "how much power you got on?"
"Only about two-thirds," replied Bob. "But I don't believe the Winner is doing her best yet."
"Well don't let her get any farther ahead if you can help it," advised Jack.
"I won't," replied Bob grimly. "I'm going to try to close up a little now."