"The Sprite isn't in the water," he answered. "How could we tow her out?"
"Matt will get her in the water," said Lorry confidently. "What do you suppose he's doing in there if he isn't getting the Sprite into the well? We left her on rollers at the top of the incline, and Matt could launch her alone without any trouble. Let's get the launch and be ready to help."
The launch referred to by Lorry was the one he had hired and brought across the lake for Matt's use during the work on the Sprite. The boat was kept at one end of the pier. While the Sprite was on the skids, the other boat was housed in the well at night, but this night she had been left outside so as not to interfere with the launching of the Sprite in the early morning.
Hoping against hope that they could yet do something that would help Motor Matt, the two boys ran alongside the boathouse, jumped to the pier and unfastened the painter of the launch. Just as they tumbled into it and McGlory was turning the flywheel, a loud explosion came from inside the boathouse. A cloud of firebrands and sparks geysered up from the roof.
"What was that?" gasped Lorry.
"The gasoline," answered McGlory, dropping down on the thwartships seat in front of the motor. "I don't know what we can do now, George."
"We'll get into the boathouse," flung back Lorry. "If——"
Lorry was interrupted by another crash. Under the startled eyes of the two in the launch, the water door was ripped and splintered, and through the ragged gap as out of a blazing furnace sped the Sprite.
For a moment she reeled as though undecided which way to turn; then, suddenly, she shot off into the lake. Neither Lorry nor McGlory could see any one aboard her.
"Where's Matt?" cried the cowboy.