"There, I knew you'd make a mess of it, Bill!" said the other man—the one who had first spoken—and he turned accusingly to his companion.
"Well, I don't care—why don't they answer? I'll wager they've seen that fellow and won't tell."
"Why shouldn't they tell?" asked the first man in a low voice, but he forgot how well even low tones carry over the water. "They are strangers here I am certain. They can't know 'The Loon,' and so we're perfectly safe in questionin' 'em."
"Yes, but they won't answer. Git over closer and maybe we can make 'em!"
"Oh!" gasped Grace, startled.
"They'd better not try!" cried Mollie with a sparkle in her eyes. "We're not very far from home, and this boat can go twice as fast as theirs."
"Don't be alarmed," said Betty. "I've got some speed in reserve yet."
The men consulted together again. They had put their boat about now, and were coming down after the Gem. But it was easy to see they had no speed.
"I say!" called out the man who had first hailed. "Won't you tell us if you've seen a ragged lad in a boat? We don't mean any harm. Just stop a minute!"
"We have no time!" said Betty sharply, "and if you persist in following us——"