CHAPTER XXVII
UNDER FIRE
“I have a hunch,” put in Gus, “that those fellows may come back any minute, possibly with some means, or hoping to get this boat afloat. We don’t want them to catch us off guard.”
“I’ll stand watch,” said the girl. “The slightest intimation——”
“Good. Let’s look at that power plant,” demanded Bill.
It was a matter of minutes only, although the time was lengthened by the boat thieves’ having hammered the gearing that connected with the starter, trying to slide it along on its shaft key in order to permit the cranking. They had failed in some way, however, to manipulate the gas and spark.
The boys had slipped the gearing into place again and the adjustments had been made, when a call from the girl made the busy lads grab their weapons and get up on deck, Bill being almost as quick as Gus.
Not fifty yards away and plainly seen in the now unclouded moonlight, a skiff was approaching. The boys, lying flat on the deck and peering over the rail, and the girl, crouching in the companion-way, could see three persons in the dory. Gus again told Bill to hail.