“Good-bye and good luck to you!” cried Si Peters, mockingly. “Hope you fellows enjoy playing Robinson Crusoe. We’ll come back for you some time next year.”
And then the yacht sailed away, leaving those on the island to their fate.
For the moment the boys did not know what to do. Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
“If you want to follow those boys you can take my boat,” he said.
“Certainly, although I use it but sparingly, and then only at night.”
The hermit led the way to the lower end of the island. Here in a water-cave rested a long, round-bottomed row-boat, containing two pairs of oars.
“Just the thing!” cried Jerry. “Come on, Harry!”
He and his chum leaped in. Blumpo looked at his newly found father.
“I will go along if you wish,” said the hermit.
In five seconds more all four were in the boat, which was then shoved out into the lake.
With Jerry and Harry at the oars, they made good progress in the direction of Si Peters’ yacht.
All were armed, and Blumpo occupied the time in seeing that every weapon was ready for use.
“The wind is dying out,” said Harry. “That is in our favor.”
“They have not more than half a mile start,” rejoined Jerry. “We ought to catch up in half an hour.”
It was evident that those on the yacht did not anticipate pursuit, for it was not until the distance between the two craft had been considerably lessened that they showed signs of alarm.
“They see us!” cried Blumpo. “Shall I give ’em a shot?”
The wind had now gone down almost entirely, and the yacht’s sails were flapping idly.
Si Peters and Wash Crosby were evidently alarmed at the turn affairs had taken, and they called their chums around them for consultation.
“We can’t do anything while the wind is down,” said Crosby.
“Let’s get out and row,” suggested Graves, who was one of the number.
This was decided on, and all of the crowd leaped into Harry’s boat. They brought the craft around to the yacht’s bow, and then every one took an oar.
“See, they are hauling off the yacht!” cried Harry. “They mean to get away somehow.”