After sending the stolen craft far
enough out from shore to clear points of land that jutted out into
the lake, the leading boat was sent straight ahead.
"A stern chase and a long chase!" murmured Mr. Damon. "Bless my
rudder, but those fellows are not going to give up easily."
"I guess not," murmured Tom. "Will you steer for a while, Mr.
Damon?"
"Of course I will. If I could get out and pull the boat after me,
to make it go faster, I would. But as I always lose my breath
when I run, perhaps it's just as well that I stay in here." Tom
thought so too, but his attention was soon given to the engine.
He adjusted the timer to get if possible a little more speed out
of the boat he had borrowed from Andy, and he paid particular
attention to the oiling system.
"We're going a bit faster!" called Mr. Damon' encouragingly, "or
else they're slacking up."
Tom peered ahead to see if this was so. It was hard to judge
whether he was overhauling the ARROW, as it was a stern chase, and
that is always difficult to judge. But a glimpse along shore
showed him that they were slipping through the water at a faster
speed.
"They're up to something!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. Damon a moment
later. "I believe they're going to fire on us, Tom. They are
pointing something this way.
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