Chick disarmed and handcuffed him in short order, leaving him where he was.
By that time, a group of excited and curious boatmen had gathered about the detectives, drawn from the several canal boats when they decided that the danger was past.
Nick and his assistants answered their numerous questions briefly, but kept their eyes all the time on the fugitive, who was swimming strongly.
The police boat had been obliged to go astern for some distance downstream in order to get room enough to make the double turn around the string of canal boats, preparatory to straightening out in pursuit of Grantley.
Its bow was now pointed toward the New Jersey shore as it crossed behind the barges. It was about to swerve again and come up along the other side of the drifting tow when the surgeon suddenly and unexpectedly changed his course.
He had been swimming with lusty strokes straight for the western bank of the river, but now he swerved and started at an angle against the current.
His object was apparent at once, and the realization gave the onlookers a thrill.
A racing power boat of the Express type, the sole occupant of which was a pretty girl in oilskins and sou’wester, had been skimming up the river at reduced speed when the unusual encounter began.
The girl had passed the barges and was about opposite the tug which was towing them when the shooting began. She had ducked out of harm’s way, but had slowed down. She was obviously determined to see all there was to see. Accordingly, when Grantley had jumped overboard she had waited only long enough to see that he did not strike out toward her; then she had shut off her power and turned her whole attention toward the novel sight.
When Grantley changed his course he headed directly for her boat.