arry. "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?"

"No; wait," replied Jerry.

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.

"Can we tow the yacht?"

"We can try."

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."

"We'll race them," replied Jerry.

They bent to their oars and made the old hermit's boat fairly fly through
the water. Slowly they crept nearer and nearer. It was an exciting chase.

"Take my place, Blumpo!" cried Jerry, at last, and the boy willingly
obeyed.

Jerry leaped into the bow, and taking up his gun pointed it at Si Peters'
head.

"Si Peters!" he called-out, "do you see this gun? Unless you stop rowing
I'll fire at you, no matter what the consequences are."

Si Peters turned deadly white, for he was in reality a big coward.

"Do you hear me?" went on Jerry. "One--two--th----"

"Stop! don't shoot!" yelled the Rockpoint bully, and he held up his oar.

"Now, Wash Crosby, you stop rowing, too!" went on Jerry.

"Think you are boss, eh?" sneered Crosby.

"I am. Up with the oar!"

Crosby hesitated, and then his oar went up beside Si's. The others became
badly frightened and also stopped rowing. In a moment more the hermit's
craft was beside the big row-boat.

The Rockpointers gazed at the white-haired man in astonishment. They
wanted to know who he was, but just then had other matters to attend to.

"You think you own the earth when you have a gun!" howled Si Peters to
Jerry.

"We're on top, that is certain," responded our hero. "Say, Harry,
supposing we get on the yacht and make them row us back to the island?"

"Not much!" growled Wash Crosby.

"Just the th