Presently Jack took down the glasses, and there was a grave expression on his face.
“What did you see, Jack?” demanded George. “Something that’s bothered you some, I can tell by the way you frown.”
“That’s a sinking craft, all right, George,” replied the other, as he turned on all the power his engine was capable of producing, and sent the Tramp speeding directly into the waves. “More than that, I’m afraid I did recognize it, and, just as Nick said, it’s the power boat, Mermaid, carrying the banker, Mr. Roland Andrews, and his party. Boys, we must hurry to their rescue before they go down!”
[CHAPTER XX]
PAYING THE PENALTY
Immediately the little fleet of motor boats had taken up a course leading directly for the floating wreck. It looked like the height of folly for such miniature craft to thus put boldly out upon the bosom of that great inland sea; and nothing save a call to duty would ever have influenced Jack to make the venture.
They were strangely quiet as they continued to buffet the oncoming waves. Once in a while some one would ask the wielder of the marine glasses what he could see, and in this way all were kept informed.
Nick was trembling, so that there were times when he could hardly hold the glasses to his eyes.