Kidd had got hold of the painter, and Pell Sankland was trying to help him; but the former could not haul in enough of the line to afford him a chance to assist. The schooner had got under full headway, and there was considerable strain on the rope. Three of the Topovers had repaired to the bow while the other three were about in the middle of the barge. She was loaded by the head, and as soon as the Goldwing began to force her through the water at her own pace, the craft scooped up about half a barrel of water.
Kidd was sailor enough to see what the matter was, and he hastily retreated to the stern of the boat, followed by his companions. Not more than one of them at a time could get hold of the painter, and there was no danger that the marauders would haul the boat alongside the schooner. But Kidd soon went forward again, after he had stationed his crew as far aft as he could get them, and began to saw away with his knife at the painter.
Matt let off the sheets, and kept the Goldwing away several points at once. As he did so, Dory slacked off the painter as much as its length would permit. When the schooner straightened the line again, she did it with a violent jerk, at an angle with the length of the barge. The effect was to tip the boat until her gunwale at the bow went under, and she shipped another half barrel of water.
Kidd's nerves were not strong enough to stand this kind of treatment, and he dreaded what might come next. He retreated to the stern; but not till he had found that it would have taken him half an hour at least to saw off the painter with his dull jack-knife. He realized that there was nothing more he could do.
The four-oar boats were now within a short distance of the scene of the strife. The crews had laid upon their oars most of the time, watching the progress of the action. The Winooski had been taken, and the battle was finished. It only remained to dispose of the prisoners. Dory had given the order to head the schooner to the nearest land. The four-oar boats reached the point off which the yacht had just come up into the wind. Tom was handed into the boat with Mr. Jepson, who was greatly amused at the exploits of the boys. He was put ashore, but the reef pendant was removed from his arms only when he was safe on the beach.
The tender and the other four-oar boat landed the prisoners from the Winooski, who had concluded not to make any resistance. As the boats left the discomfited ruffians on the shore, Tom cast a large stone at one of them, and the rest proceeded to follow his example. But no harm was done, and the boats were soon out of the way of their missiles.
"Homeward bound!" shouted Dory, as soon as he had taken his crew from the tender on board.
Two oarsmen were taken from each of the small boats, for the remaining two could easily pull them across the lake with the wind, and transferred to the Winooski. Thad Glovering in the Gildrock was close by, for his party had no idea of leaving the scene while there was any fun in prospect. The whole squadron, consisting of the Goldwing and the four row-boats, were within talking distance of each other. The battle had been fought and won, and there was nothing to do but go home. The Gildrock was farthest out on the lake, and she led the way. All the fleet were in the smoother water of the cove.
"The Chesterfields!" shouted Oscar Chester, when the Goldwing was fairly under way. "They are just coming around the point; and they have half the Topovers on board."
"We need not bother our heads any more about the Chesterfields or the Topovers," replied Dory. "We have got our boats, and that was all I wanted."