endous pace only a few times in his practice and did
not like it. Though his instructor had assured him that the launch was
capable of holding it indefinitely without injury, he feared a breakdown
or the unnecessary wear upon many parts of the engine.

He kept up the furious speed until they curved around the upper part of
the peninsula and saw the expansion above, all the way to Long Ledge,
where Back River begins. He had been confident of catching sight of the
_Water Witch_, but she was nowhere in sight.

The natural conclusion was that the launch had taken on a higher burst of
speed--probably the limit--and gone so far that by still keeping near the
shore she had placed several miles behind her--enough to carry her out of
the field of vision.

"Keep it up till we catch sight of her again," suggested Calvert. "I
believe there are no more bridges between us and Wiscasset."

Some three or four miles were passed at high speed, when they reached a
portion of the river which opened a view of still greater extent. They
saw two small sailboats at a distance, and a little steamer puffing
northward, but nothing of the _Water Witch_.

"You may as well slow down," remarked the detective, who, guarding a
match with his hands behind the wind-shield, proceeded to light another
cigar.

"What do you make of it?" asked Alvin, turning his head, as the pace
became slower than before.

"We have passed the other boat; she is behind us instead of in front."

"What shall we do?"

"For hiven's sake don't go back," protested Mike. "Ye might find her--and
then what would become of ye?"

The detective now gave his view of the situation.

"If we should turn round and find that boat, those on board would know we
were looking for them. We don't wish to give that impression, at least
for some time to come. While we were going in one direction and they in
another, they challenged us to a race. Any two boats might have done the
same in the circumstances. We have to accept defeat and that's all there
is to it."

Calvert looked at his watch.

"It is near noon; if you all feel as I do you would welcome a good
dinner."

"That's the most sensible sense that I've heerd since we started,"
remarked Mike, who was as hungry as his companions.

"It is not a long run to Wiscasset," said Alvin; "and there's more than
one good hotel there."

"I'm thinking that at the speed ye're going, we'll hardly arrive in time
for supper. There must be some