ORDERED BACK
The wind had freshened and was now blowing at a lively rate. Andy and
Frank sprang to the sails, even hoisting a small jib which they seldom
used. But now they wanted all the speed they could get, for the craft
which was towing the damaged motor boat was some distance away, and was
rapidly drawing ahead.
"Can we catch her, do you think?" asked Andy, as he gave the tiller
over to his brother.
"We've got to," was the answer with quiet determination. "Suppose you
get something to eat while I handle the boat? We may not have time to
cook anything after we come up to them."
"Are you going to come to close quarters?"
"I'm going to try to get near enough to see if the mysterious man is
aboard, and if he is, I'm going to fire some questions at him, and let
him know that he's liable to arrest for entering our house the other
night."
"I'd like to fire something else besides questions at him. I've got my
small rifle aboard."
"None of that!" objected Frank quickly. "We'll proceed on lawful
lines, no matter what he does. Now, Miss _Gull_," and he patted the
rail of the craft, "do your prettiest. See if you can't catch up to
those fellows."
The wind continued good and the boys' craft slipped through the water
at a lively rate of speed. Andy busied himself in the galley, whence
soon came the appetizing odor of coffee, bacon and eggs.
"Hurry up with that!" called Frank. "I'm as hungry as a crab."
"It's almost ready," replied his brother. "Shall I bring it up, or
will you come down?"
"You get yours first, and then relieve me. I don't want to eat with
one hand and steer with the other. Only don't be all morning, and
leave some for me."
There was enough, as Frank soon discovered, and when he came up on deck
again he found Andy leaning against the tiller and peering at the
distant vessel through the binoculars.
"Can you make out anything?" he asked.
"No, I can see several men aboard, but I don't notice our mysterious
friend."
"Do they seem to be paying any attention to us?"
"Not a bit. Guess they don't even know we are here. I don't believe
we are going to catch up to them, though."
"Oh, yes we are. The _Gull_ is plenty fast, and they are handicapped
by dragging that motor boat in the water. It must be partly filled, as
it sets so far down, and that makes it all the harder to tow. We're
gaining on them."
"Not so's you could notice it."
"Oh, well, we've got all day, and grub enough for another night. I'm
not going to give up this chase until I have to, or until I've solved
the mystery."
"And I'm with you."
There is not much excitement in a sailing race, as the boys very soon
found out. There was nothing they could do, which would have been the
case in a motor craft, to add to their speed. All they could do was to
sit and let the wind carry them. And they were glad to see that the
breeze was continually freshening.
"There'll be another gale before night, if this keeps up," predicted
Frank.
"Let it," assented Andy. "The _Gull_ likes heavy weather, and we can
stand it."
"Yes, but father and mother will be worried about us. If it comes on
to blow too hard we'll have to turn back."
"And let that man get away?"
"There'd be no help for it. But we haven't turned back yet, and now
his craft ought to be easy to trace."
Once more they looked through the glass at the vessel ahead of them.
They could see sailors moving about on deck, but that was all. No sign
of the tall dark man was visible.
"Perhaps he isn't aboard," suggested Andy.
"It can't be helped," answered his brother. "We want the motor boat
almost as much as we want the man, and we can't take our choice I'm
afraid. But we are certainly creeping up on them."
This was true, for while two miles had at first separated the vessels,
the distance was now narrowed to a little less than a half mile, and
the _Gull_ was sailing better than was her rival.
"What are you going to do when you get within hailing distance?" asked
Andy, after a pause.
"I don't know--haven't exactly made up my mind," was the answer of the
elder Racer lad. "But I'll have to soon."
Frank was giving all his attention to managing the _Gull_, so as to
gain every foot. Andy went up forward now and then to report progress.
"Hey, Frank!" he suddenly called, "there's something doing on board."
"What makes you think so?"
"Why the whole crowd of them have come aft and are looking at us for
all they're worth."
"Are they using glasses?"
"No--yes, they are too! A new man has come up on deck, and he's got a
pair. He's training them on us."
"Good! That shows they're worried. Take our glasses and see what you
can make out."
Andy looked long and earnestly. Then he let out a yell.
"It's him! It's that mysterious man!" he shouted. "He's excited, too,
for he's making motions to the crew!"
"Good! Watch him carefully. We'll be up to them in about five
minutes."
Andy watched. In a minute he gave another cry.
"What is it?" asked Frank.
"They're laying-to--waiting for us, I guess."
"They won't have long to wait," declared Frank grimly.
The _Gull_ was swiftly slipping through the water. In a little while
it was almost abeam of the craft towing the mysterious motor boat.
Frank threw her head up into the wind, and, as he did so a voice from
the other sailboat hailed him.
"_Gull_ ahoy! Are you trailing us?"
It was the mysterious man calling, and he was standing on the rail.
"Yes, we are," answered Frank boldly.
"Well, what do you want?"
"We want to find out who you are, what you have to do with a boy named
Paul, why you have his motor boat in tow, and why you entered our house
like a thief in the night."
"Hu! That's a lot of questions. And I suppose you think they'll be
answered," commented the man, in sneering tones.
"I do," said Frank calmly. "Where are you going with that boat?"
"None of your business!" snapped the man. "And I want to tell you one
thing more. You've got to quit trailing after us, too!"
"Suppose we refuse?" asked Andy.
"Then it will be the worse for you. Meldrick, just run that brass
cannon over on this side."
A moment later the muzzle of a small brass gun was pointed menacingly
at our heroes.
"There's my answer," went on the mysterious man. "If you persist in
following us you'll be plugged below the water line. Now you go back
where you came from, and keep away. Don't try to meddle with what
doesn't concern you."
"This does concern us--or, rather a friend of ours," said Frank
determinedly. "And what's more, we're going to swear out a warrant for
your arrest for setting fire to our boat with a bale of hay."
The man on the rail started.
"Are you going to turn back?" he shouted.
"No!" declared Frank.
"Get ready to fire," said the scoundrel calmly.
"I guess they've got us," spoke Andy, in a low voice to his brother.
"We can't risk being fired at."
"No, I suppose not," answered Frank bitterly. "We'll have to run back."
He let the head of his craft fall off in the wind.
"That's more sensible," commented the man on the rail. "Good-bye!" he
called sarcastically as the vessels separated, the one towing the
damaged motor craft forging ahead, while the _Gull_ sailed off on the
backward tack.
There were bitter feelings in the hearts of Frank and Andy Racer. They
had almost solved the mystery, only to lose at the last moment. But
they resolved not to give up.