Meanwhile the other boat hastily withdrew and when the Go Ahead boys again looked up to discover where it was, not one of them was able to find it.
"That's a great note!" exclaimed George in disgust. "They not merely ram us, but they don't wait nor even offer to help us."
"They didn't want to help," grumbled Sam. "The sooner they could get away from here, the better."
"What do you mean?" said Grant, abruptly turning to face Sam as he spoke.
"It seems to me," spoke up John, "that Nature doesn't have to make every fellow seven stories high to leave his topknot vacant. Sam thinks those fellows ran into us purposely."
For a moment the Go Ahead boys stared blankly at one another. The suggestion of John in the light of what had occurred after the accident might be true. The men in the other boat were strangers to the boys, not one of whom had ever seen either of them before.
The silent manner in which the sharp little boat had come around the island also was suspicious. With redoubled anxiety the boys turned to Sam to discover how serious was the damage which had been inflicted.
"How do you find it, Sam?" called Fred anxiously. "Are we out of the race?"
Sam shook his head as if he either was unwilling or unable as yet to reply.
Meanwhile the Black Growler had been drifting with the current, all power instantly having been shut off. Slight effort was required to keep her headed aright and Fred had remained at the wheel when Sam had begun his investigations.