“Clarence, as sure as anything!” ejaculated Herb.
“And wasn’t I right about that boat?” asked Jack. “You can see he’s meaning to go out to it right now. But one good thing, we’ll be likely to have twenty-four hours’ start of them. And on these broad waters they may have some trouble looking us up.”
“There’s Bully Joe, too,” remarked George. “See him look over this way and scowl! Somehow the sight of our gallant little fleet doesn’t seem to please Mr. Brinker a whole lot. He’d be better satisfied if he could only set eyes on them awash, with their decks level with the water.”
Clarence did not seem to glance once toward the three motor boats. A third party joined them, and it was not hard for Jack and his friends to guess that this must be the unlucky Jared Fullerton, whom the stalwart Mr. Spofford had dumped into the waters of the St. Lawrence when he attempted to board the Comfort one night not so very long since.
Just as soon as they were well through with breakfast, the motor boat boys got ready to put out on the broad waters which were, from now on, to serve them as a field of recreation.
Jack gave the signal, when he had learned that both the others were ready. Immediately there was a tremendous amount of energetic popping, as the motors once more got into service after their spell of idleness.
Clarence and the others aboard the long dark boat looked after the three departing craft; and while none of our friends bothered waving a hand in parting, Jack could see that the owner of the Flash and his crony, Bully Joe, were talking earnestly, as though laying some sort of plan for the near future.
He even saw Clarence pointing after them, and then sweep his hand half way around, as if declaring that no matter where the departing boats might vanish, he would have little trouble in locating them if he wanted to do so.
And to himself Jack was saying that there could be no doubt but that Clarence, with that vindictive, cruel disposition of his, would put himself to almost any trouble in order to get the laugh on those he hated so bitterly.
The sun shone brightly as they pulled out of Clayton, and all of them believed it was a good sign. The last they saw of the suspicious dark boat with the contour of a river greyhound, Clarence was still talking to his mates, and doing a great deal of pointing.