"So much the worse for the poor old boat; we'll just have to run her down," calmly observed the youth called Bluff.
"I was only thinking of your being swamped in the rough water she leaves in her wake. Better relax your muscles for a few minutes, you impatient braves."
"Talk to me about your hard luck, what d'ye think of that? Why, the plagued old boat's just gone and stopped where she blocks us off in our little spin," grumbled Jerry, in plain disgust.
"That settles it, then; we'll surely have to sink her," remarked Bluff.
"Hold on before you think of that. I'm afraid there's something wrong aboard, for Captain Amos would never stop out there on the lake--at least I never knew him to do such a thing before," said Frank, standing up in the canoe to see better.
"Say, fellows, isn't that smoke coming out of the cabin?" demanded Will.
"Smoke--why, perhaps the old tinderbox is afire!" ejaculated Bluff.
"Let's paddle out and see; perhaps we can be of some help!" cried Jerry.
"Hey! you fellers hold on; where do I come in?" shouted Will.
"You stay on the dock and get a snapshot of the whole circus!" answered the unfeeling Jerry, as he spurted away, urging his dainty craft along with rapid strokes of his spruce blade.
"Marooned, I declare," muttered Will; "but perhaps I can improve the opportunity and get a picture that will go down in the history of steamboating on Lake Camalot."
The three lads fairly flew over the intervening water, which was almost smooth, as the breeze hardly created a ripple on the surface.
Frank, having a larger boat to manage, fell behind a trifle; but his arms were seasoned in all manner of work, and he kept tagging along close in the rear.
Apparently there was need for alarm, as the smoke had rapidly increased in volume, and was now pouring out of the little steamer.
At the same time they could plainly hear the shouts of excited men; while the shriller voices that arose told that there were women passengers aboard.
Dashing up to the side of the boat the boys scrambled aboard, hastily securing their canoes to any object that promised temporary anchorage.
Here they found a scene of the utmost confusion. Men were trying to dash buckets of water upon the fire, which seemed to have gotten quite a foothold. It even looked as though the first trip of the little _Eastern Star_ this season would prove to be her last.