The motor boat had been headed almost directly for the rowboat, but as soon as Merwell recognized those in the smaller craft he turned to his crony and said something in a whisper, and then the motor boat was turned in another direction.
"Motor boat, ahoy!" cried Ben. To this hail Poole and Merwell paid no attention. Poole was steering and the bully was at the engine, and the latter advanced the spark and turned on more gasoline, in order to increase the speed of the craft.
"Oh, it's Mr. Lawrence!" cried Mary Feversham.
"And Mr. Porter and Mr. Morr!" added Vera Rockwell.
"Please stop the boat, we want to speak to them," went on Mary, to Merwell.
"Can't stop just now," grumbled the bully, as he tried to make the engine run still faster.
"Why, the idea!" exclaimed the strange girl of the party. "I thought you could stop a motor boat any time."
"So you can," added Vera Rockwell. "I want you to stop," she went on, commandingly.
"Can't do it," answered Merwell, and then he winked at Poole, who had turned his head to listen to the talk.
"Well, I think you are real mean!" pouted Mary. "I shall never ask you to take me across
