In this supposition he was right. But he did not give the rascals credit for quite so much audacity as they possessed.
As Nick reached over the sides of the two launches which were rubbing against each other, and grabbed the man nearest to him, who happened to be Pet Carlin, there was a loud shout from Chick.
“Look out, chief! They’re getting our men!”
The launches sprang violently apart, and Nick was obliged to let go of Pet to save himself from going overboard.
With his throttle wide open, sending the boat along at full speed, Nick swung around in pursuit of the other craft.
He had special reason to do this now, for, as Chick had warned him, the trio of ruffians had actually snatched away Don Solado and Prince Miguel, his handcuffed prisoners, under his very nose.
Only the fact that Nick had been hampered by his position at the wheel and the levers of the engine had enabled the rascals to be successful.
It was impossible for the detectives to move quickly—even if it had been safe to leave the launch to its own devices. He was obliged to keep his hand on the steering wheel, and to see that the engine was not running wild.
Larry Dugan, Foxey, and Pet all understood this, and they had taken instant advantage of the odds in their favor.
Pulling the two prisoners from one boat to the other, they had allowed them to lie down in the bottom, while Dugan, with a skill equal to Nick Carter’s own, had sent his launch full speed toward the wharves and tangle of shipping that one always sees on the water front of Yonkers.