"It's a fall!" panted a husky voice. "Cut for it, on the double quick. The launch—it's the only thing for us."
Three figures leaped away along the docks. They were the three men, Red-whiskers, Kinky, and Ross—for, in Matt's mind, it was clear that the two latter had been in hiding, waiting to help their pal if he needed it.
The suggestion about the launch aroused Matt's fears for the Sprite. He started toward the place where the launch was moored, but halted when he saw the three men vanishing in another direction.
[CHAPTER VIII.]
A CHASE ACROSS THE BAY.
The suddenness with which the red-whiskered man's accomplices had interfered with Motor Matt's plan, and caused it to fail, was as startling as it was unexpected. Matt, standing back toward the edge of the dock with a thumping pain in his shoulder, felt a spasm of chagrin and disappointment.
McGlory picked himself up, assisted the policeman to his feet, and both came toward Matt. The policeman was rubbing his head, and seemed dazed.
"Sufferin' snakes!" exclaimed McGlory. "I'm trying to figure out what happened. Who were the other two that blew in on us, pard, just as we had everything our own way?"
"They must have been Kinky and Ross," replied Matt.