Dory had but a few moments to consider the matter. Matt Randolph and Oscar Chester were near him, out of breath after the run they had made. Tom Topover had retreated to the shore of the pond; and the coxswain of the Winooski, not wishing to engage in a fight, had neglected to follow him. Nim Splugger had taken command of the Gildrock, and Kidd Digfield of the Winooski. They had made sure to put a couple of lengths between the barges and the wharf, and in this position they were as safe from any interference of the boys on shore as though they had been in the middle of the lake.
There was no boat at the grove, and no means of pursuing the captors of the barges. In fact, nothing at all could be done, and for the moment the situation looked hopeless to the coxswains. Kidd proceeded to give directions to his crew as soon as the immediate danger of capture was passed. Taking the tiller-lines himself, he brought something like order out of the confusion in his crew. After a great deal of sharp talk, he succeeded in getting his fellows so that they could pull a stroke together, and the Winooski slowly moved towards the lower end of the lake.
Kidd could not help seeing the chief Topover on the shore, and as soon as his crew were in working order, he headed to the point where he stood. Dory immediately observed the change in the course of the Winooski, and understood the purpose of her present coxswain, which was to take Tom on board. By this time Matt and Oscar were as near the spot where Tom was waiting for the boat as Dory was.
"Head them off!" shouted Dory, as he started at the top of his speed.
"Pull lively, fellers!" yelled Kidd Digfield, when he saw the three students running towards his leader.
They did pull with all their might, and as the Winooski was bound to go ahead when the oars crossed her gunwale, she was too much for the runners on the shore. Dory hoped one of the clumsy oarsmen would "catch a crab" at that important moment, but not one of them gratified his desire. He was within a couple of rods of Tom, and was all ready to pitch into him, when Kidd ordered his crew to stop rowing, and then to back water.
The inexperienced coxswain had not calculated well, and the boat lost her headway when her sharp bow was within ten feet of the shore. Dory's hopes swelled when he saw the boat come to a stand, and he increased his speed.
"Pull again!" shouted Kidd, almost crazy with excitement, when he realized that he was losing the game.
But his undisciplined crew were in confusion, and only half of them could bring their oars to bear. The barge went ahead again just as Dory was about to pounce on Tom Topover. The leader of the ruffians saw his peril, and he did not seem to be "spoiling for a fight" at just that moment, perhaps because his late victim had been reinforced by a couple of his companions. He had not another instant to spare, and Tom made a vigorous leap for the bow of the Winooski.