"Hello! stop that man!" shouted Dick.
"Catch him!" echoed Jack.
Jack's boat was at the shore, not hauled up on the bank as usual,
and now this man made directly for it, sprang in, started the engine
in a few moments, and was out on the river as the two boys and some
others came running down.
"I am going to take your boat, J.W., if it's ready!" shouted Jack
to young Smith whom he saw approaching. "I must catch that fellow!"
"All right, Jack!" cried the boy. "Do what you like with it."
Jack sprang into the smaller boy's boat, started the engine and set
off after the runaway at a good speed.
The man was going up the river, and already had a good lead, but Jack
did not hesitate, relying on getting help to stop him before he had
gone much farther, or, at any rate, when he reached town, where he
was evidently making his way.
The fugitive kept as close in to shore as possible, and made the
highest speed he could; Jack realized that his boat was a good one,
and would have some trouble to keep it in sight, although young
Smith's boat was capable of making good time.
"I am glad I know what young J.W.'s boat can do," he said to
himself, "and if that fellow had not had a lead on me I would have
been up to him by this time.
Pages:
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81