talk of the one that called to me
sounded as though he were a foreigner, perhaps an Italian--about the
other I couldn't say. They surely meant to steal this boat, and if they
had not stuck here, I don't know whatever would have become of me. And
now, may I ask of you to----?"

"Start that motor and get you back? You sure may--and it ought not to be
much of a job."

"My father will liberally reward you."

"We don't want any reward, Miss Waring. Doing mechanical stunts in
trying to rescue people is our specialty."

CHAPTER XXVII

UNDER FIRE

"I have a hunch," put in Gus, "that those fellows may come back any
minute, possibly with some means, or hoping to get this boat afloat. We
don't want them to catch us off guard."

"I'll stand watch," said the girl. "The slightest intimation----"

"Good. Let's look at that power plant," demanded Bill.

It was a matter of minutes only, although the time was lengthened by the
boat thieves' having hammered the gearing that connected with the
starter, trying to slide it along on its shaft key in order to permit
the cranking. They had failed in some way, however, to manipulate the
gas and spark.

The boys had slipped the gearing into place again and the adjustments
had been made, when a call from the girl made the busy lads grab their
weapons and get up on deck, Bill being almost as quick as Gus.

Not fifty yards away and plainly seen in the now unclouded moonlight, a
skiff was approaching. The boys, lying flat on the deck and peering over
the rail, and the girl, crouching in the companion-way, could see three
persons in the dory. Gus again told Bill to hail.

"Ahoy, there! Back water and stay where you are! What do you want?"

The rhythmic beat of the oars continued, rapidly lessening the distance.

"Halt, or we'll shoot! If you don't want to get sunk and have your
carcasses filled as full of holes as a pepper-box, you'll sheer off!"

This had its effect. The oars were held and pushed to check the motion.
No word came in reply, but Gus plainly saw an object that resembled a
gun barrel come from a vertical to a foreshortened position. This was
sufficient for drastic action, though the boy was averse to compelling a
tragedy. With careful aim he sent a load of shot just over the heads of
the boatmen, then instantly fired another into the water at one side.
Almost immediately a shot came in reply, the bullet