Part 14 (1/2)

All three braced up, and the big boat went forward at an increased rate of speed.

”Hullo!” cried Harry, presently. ”Jerry, doesn't that look like Si Peters'

yacht?”

And Harry pointed over to the west sh.o.r.e of the lake, where a craft had just emerged from behind a small headland.

”It is the Peters' yacht, sure enough,” replied Jerry, after studying the craft.

”If she c.u.ms dis way, we'll hab lively times,” remarked Blumpo.

”That's true, Blumpo. Come, maybe we can get away from her.”

The boys kept steadily on their course, and for a long time those on the yacht seemed to pay no attention to them.

But after awhile the big boat put on another tack, and fifteen minutes later it was within hailing distance. Then they saw that Si Peters and Crosby were in posession. They had with them five other Rockpoint lads, including Banner and Graves.

”Hi, you fellows, stop rowing!” yelled Peters at the top of his voice.

”Mind your own business, Si Peters,” retorted Harry.

”You won't stop?”

”No. Leave us alone.”

”We want you to give up Jerry Upton.”

”Give him up?”

”Exactly. Come up alongside and let him jump on board of the yacht.”

”That's as cool as a cake of ice!” cried Jerry. ”You want everything, don't you?”

”We are going to get square with you, Jerry Upton!” put in Wash Crosby.

”Let us pull away as fast as we can,” whispered Harry. ”Those chaps mean trouble.”

”Dat's de talk,” said Blumpo, who was the worst scared of the three.

They bent to their oars, and soon moved off a hundred feet or more.

Then Si Peters ran out to the jib of the yacht.

”Stop!” he commanded. ”Pull another yard and you'll be sorry for it.”

”We'll risk it,” replied Jerry.

”We'll run you down!”