nd Si Peters and Wash
Crosby are bad eggs if ever there were any."

"Dat's so, fo' suah," murmured Blumpo.

"Well, we won't have any words with them," said Jerry. "We'll let bygones
be bygones."

"I would like to know where they got that yacht," said Harry. "It can't be
possible Mr. Peters bought it for Si. When Si went to the reformatory he
told father he intended to send his son to a military school and cut off
his allowance."

"Maybe Si has promised to reform. Hullo! they are coming this way!"

Jerry sprang up in alarm, for the big yacht had suddenly veered around
several points and was now coming head on toward them.

"We'll be run down!" shrieked Blumpo, in terror.

"The young fools!" muttered Jack Broxton. "Don't they know anything about
steering?"

"The big yacht is evidently one too many for them. See, there is no one
aboard but Si and Wash. Two hands are not enough for such a craft."

Nearer and nearer the two yachts came to each other.

Jack Broxton did his best to steer clear of the Arrow, but he was at a
disadvantage. Soon the big yacht took away all the wind of the Whistler
and she lay helpless.

"Keep off!" yelled Jerry, but the cry was unheeded.

Bang! Crash! The Arrow struck the Whistler on the bow, the long bowsprit
ripping a hole in the main-sail.

Then came a smashing of woodwork and the Whistler began to sink.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE ROBBERY OF THE ROCKPOINT HOTEL.

"We are lost!"

"Heaben sabe us!"

"Cling fast for your lives!"

A dozen other cries rang out, for the force of the collision was
terrible.

But all clung fast and no one was thrown into the water, to be struck and
perhaps instantly killed.

"What do you mean, Si Peters?" yelled Jerry. "You ran into us on
purpose!"

There was no time to reply nor to say more. After the crash the two yachts
drifted apart, and with a somewhat damaged bowsprit the Arrow went on her
way.

As she slid by, Harry caught a glimpse of Wash Crosby holding fast to a
big red valise, which had come near bounding overboard. He thought no more
of it at the time, but had good reason to remember it later.

"What shall we do?" asked Jack Broxton.

"We've got a neat little hole in the side."

"Can we beach her on the island?" asked Harry. "I don't want the Whistler
to go to the bottom of the lake."

"I reckon I can manage it. Just hold that bit of canvas over the hole."

Harry and our hero jumped to do as bidden, while Jack Broxton