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"Here we are, monarchs of all we survey," remarked Bobolink, as the last of the other scouts went off, leaving the four guards to their task of taking care of those two fine motorboats for the night. It was nine o'clock.
Rick and Scotty stood on the pier and watched their erstwhile shadow row slowly toward another pier some distance away. "We probably should have tied him up and called the police," Rick remarked. "It wouldn't have gotten us anything," Scotty disagreed. "He could always claim he didn't see us in the water. After all, it wouldn't be the first time divers had been run over by motorboats."
We are to be on hand to see that this does not happen." "I see, sir," replied Frank. "Is it just The Hawk, sir?" "Well, no," replied Lord Hastings. "The Hawk and nine other motorboats." "A regular fleet," remarked Jack. "I suppose the idea is for us to trail in behind the Glasgow?" "Exactly.
"I guess you're, about right, Davy," admitted Thad; "and I often sit and wonder how it'd seem if a fellow lived away back in those days before the times of automobiles, motorboats, telephones, talking machines and electricity." "Huh!" grunted Bumpus, "according to my mind, what dangers they faced ain't to be mentioned in the same breath as them we have hovering over us all the while.
"Contrary, no!" he continued. There were just three who boldly allowed themselves to be set down as not being in favor of the daring plan Nuthin, Curly Baxter and Joe Clausin; and yet, just as the wise, far-seeing Bobolink had declared, when it came to a question of staying at home while the rest of the troop were off enjoying their vacation, or swallowing their fear of ghosts and wild men, these three boys would be along when the motorboats started on their adventurous cruise.
The motorboats followed closely in the wake of the big steamship. Although they were, of course, plainly visible from the steamer, and could possibly be seen from the sides, it was hoped that the enemies' submarine would take a position directly in front of the Glasgow when she accosted her. This would shield the motorboats from sight. The Glasgow and its bodyguard were now out of sight of land.
The sun shone brightly and the day was perfectly calm. There was scarcely a ripple upon the smooth surface of the sea. Below, aboard the Glasgow, the passengers were at dinner. They were laughing and joking among themselves. Aboard the motorboats all was peacefully quiet. The men not on duty were idling about and talking.
At 11.40 p.m. on April 22, 1918, the coastal motorboats detailed to lay the first smoke screen ran in to very close range and proceeded to lay smoke floats and by other methods make the necessary "fog." These craft immediately were under fire, and only their small size and great speed saved them from destruction.
"She's stationary at last Never rose a bit the last ten minutes. And believe me, I honestly think she's begun to go down just a little." The other boys let out a cheer at this news. That was what they were all hoping for that the water would go down gradually, so as not to endanger the motorboats.
Indeed, they waited to reach a certain pleasant grove which some of them knew about, on the south shore of the river, and several miles above the spot where Purt Sweet had taken his involuntary ducking. As the motorboats put ashore and the boys tied them to stubs in the high bank, they all began joking Purt about his plunge into the river.
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