"The rest of the tinker boats are following her," continued Ham Jackson.
The Gildrock made a graceful sweep before the sloop came up with the position of the last barge in the line, and was abreast of the Silver Moon about as soon as she was under full headway. The Beech Hillers now laid themselves out, though they could hardly expect to keep up with the sailboat in that wind.
"Can't you outsail those barges, Mr. Bissell?" asked Mad Twinker.
"Every time when we have as much breeze as we have now," replied the skipper. "And we shall have a good deal more before we have any less."
"There goes the Dasher," said Alf Sumner. "The Racer is after her."
"And both of them will be a long way after the tinkers," added Ham Jackson.
"We want you to put us ashore on the Sandy Bay side of the point," said Mad Twinker. "Of course, we shall pay you the dollar an hour for the boat and boatman for all the time we have her."
"That's all right," answered the skipper, as he headed the Silver Moon farther out into the bay, and let off the main sheet to suit the change.
In a few minutes more the boat was in rough water, and she began to pitch and roll in a manner somewhat trying to the nerves of persons not used to it. The six ruffians, who were no boatmen, for they had very seldom been allowed in a sailboat, did not like it.
"What's the use of going out so far from the shore, Mr. Bissell?" demanded Mad Twinker.