“Nonsense!” exclaimed Nelson.
“Nonsense be blowed! He’s after us in the tugboat!”
Dan turned and faced the others with a broad smile.
“Now for some fun!” he chuckled.
At that moment the Vagabond swung around the Point and shook herself clear of the harbor waters. But over the low sandspit a sudden cloud of black smoke floated upward, showing that the captain had taken up the chase.
CHAPTER IX—PROVES THAT A STERN CHASE IS NOT ALWAYS A LONG CHASE
For a moment there was silence in the cockpit of the Vagabond. Nelson and Bob looked serious, Tom somewhat frightened, and Dan as happy as a lark. It was Bob who first broke the silence.
“How fast can one of those tugs travel?” he asked. Nelson shook his head.
“It depends on the tug,” he answered. “That one looked pretty small, and so I guess her engine isn’t very powerful. But even so, it’s likely she can give us a mighty good run.”
“How’s our engine running?” asked Bob.