Part 10 (2/2)

”I have one,” said the colonel ”We can take that Co off at a pace that kept the four youths on a run to keep up with him, the colonel led the way back to the house Just before co to it he stopped

”Take that path to the left, it leads down to the landing,” he directed ”Get the boat you will find there ready, and I will be with you in awith us?” asked Rand

”Do you think I a to be left out of this?” returned the colonel ”Not for athe colonel's directions, the boys went down to the landing where they found the Scout, a 25-foot cat-boat,on board they made ready to cast her loose, took the stops off the sail and had it partly hoisted when the colonel ca to shoot them?” asked Pepper

”I hope not,” replied the colonel, ”but it is just as well to be prepared for all e on board ”Cast her off and up with the sail”

”How is that?” called Rand

”A little more on the peak; that's it, now pull it ho this ti and now, as the wind filled the sail she glided out into the river, running free

”See anything of them?” asked the colonel

”Not yet,” answered Rand, as in the bow looking up the river

”'Tis my opinion,” said Donald, ”that we'll be no likely to find them” ”There they are!” cried Jack

”Where away?” asked the colonel

”Over there by the other shore,” replied Jack ”You can just see the start,” doubted Rand, ”that ill never catch them”

”You can't most always tell until you try,” observed Jack

”And sometimes not then,” added Pepper

With the wind on her quarter the Scout sped up the river on a course that would bring her near to the opposite shore, a little in front of the boat they were pursuing, the occupants of which, evidently having no thought of pursuit, were rowing in a leisurely fashi+on

It was not until the Scout was alave it any attention, and then only enough to change their course sufficiently to keep out of her way

”Boat, ahoy!” finally shouted the colonel

To this hail those in the s that the Scout was pursuing theed their course to run directly to the shore

”In with the sheet!” called the colonel, quickly bringing the Scout around; ”there, that will do!” as Rand and Donald hauled in the sail until it was tri over until her gunas under water Holding her up in the wind until the peaks shi+vered, the colonel kept her on that course until she had run some hundred feet beyond the other boat

”Look out, boys!” called the colonel; ”we are going about,” at the sa the boat up in the wind, and then, as the sail filled again, heading for the other boat

But the man in the small boat was as wary as the colonel, and as the Scout cales, and then as the sailboat went by, resumed his forht,” decided the colonel, when thisfor the other shore, and if he gets in a the shallows over there I am afraid ill lose him yet”

The Scout was now so close to the suished