Throwing the switch over another notch, the boys were gratified to find that they were creeping up on the Rocket, and by the time they had passed the second buoy at the foot of the lake, they had passed both the Rocket and the Chum, and only a half-length separated them from the Eagle, while the Winner was only a length ahead of its nearest rival.
"I'm going to keep her like this," whispered Bob, "unless they go faster, and I think they are doing pretty near their best."
All the way up the east side of the lake the three leading boats kept at about the same relative distance, while the rest of the fleet was hopelessly out of the race. As they passed the last buoy, about a mile from the end, Fred Jenkins turned and shouted, "Now we're going to show you some speed."
The boys saw him turn his timer and almost immediately the Winner began to forge ahead of the others.
"Look out, Bob," whispered excited Jack, "Don't let her get away from you."
Bob's answer was to turn the switch another notch and in a very short time the Sprite had passed the Eagle and only a length separated the two leading boats.
"I've still got two more notches," whispered Bob, "and I think they're doing their best, and we're gaining on them."
Foot by foot the Sprite crept up on the Winner till, when they were about a half mile from the finish, the two boats were racing side by side.
"Let her out another notch," urged Jack, and as Bob complied, Jack, delighted to see that they were drawing away from the Winner, could not keep from shouting, "Goodby, see you later." But only angry looks answered him.
Just then they passed a small rowboat carrying a lady and two little girls, and a moment later the two boys were startled to hear a wild shriek. Turning they were just in time to see the Winner strike the small boat a glancing blow. The blow was not hard enough to cause the Winner to swerve from her course or to upset the boat, but it threw the girls into a panic, and standing up in the boat, it almost immediately capsized.