Before the boy had finished the man uttered an inarticulate mutter, and flushed deeply, dashing out of the room as the sentence was completed.

CHAPTER X

DISAPPOINTMENTS

“Come On, Dick, the man must not escape!” cried Jack excitedly.  “Excuse us, Doctor, we’ve got to watch him.  Come ahead, Dick!”

Both boys left the cottage in haste, seeing the man running toward the river when they reached the outside.

“Hello! stop that man!” shouted Dick.

“Catch him!” echoed Jack.

Jack’s boat was at the shore, not hauled up on the bank as usual, and now this man made directly for it, sprang in, started the engine in a few moments, and was out on the river as the two boys and some others came running down.

“I am going to take your boat, J.W., if it’s ready!” shouted Jack to young Smith whom he saw approaching.  “I must catch that fellow!”

“All right, Jack!” cried the boy.  “Do what you like with it.”

Jack sprang into the smaller boy’s boat, started the engine and set off after the runaway at a good speed.

The man was going up the river, and already had a good lead, but Jack did not hesitate, relying on getting help to stop him before he had gone much farther, or, at any rate, when he reached town, where he was evidently making his way.

The fugitive kept as close in to shore as possible, and made the highest speed he could; Jack realized that his boat was a good one, and would have some trouble to keep it in sight, although young Smith’s boat was capable of making good time.

“I am glad I know what young J.W.’s boat can do,” he said to himself, “and if that fellow had not had a lead on me I would have been up to him by this time.  I think I can beat him in the long run, as he does not know my boat as well as I do, and I know this one now.”

Jack hoped that by the time he reached town he might get aid to stop the man even if he had not overhauled him, and he kept on at a good rate.

“That fellow must know something about motor-boats,” he thought, “for he is managing mine in good shape.  I could do better with her, but he is doing very well.  I only wish some one would come along so as to head him off.  I don’t like to lose him.”

When they neared the mouth of the kill Jack shot a hasty glance ahead to see if there was any one coming to whom he could shout, and saw a little tug put out from the railroad dock.

He was about to shout to them when to his great annoyance he saw the man in his boat shoot into the kill and disappear.

“H’m!  I don’t know where he will go now!” he muttered in disappointment, hurrying after the fugitive.

He was not far behind as it was, and as he entered the creek, having put on extra speed, he saw the man only a short distance ahead.

Not far away there was a turn in the creek, and the runaway presently disappeared around it, Jack following and gaining ground.