Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/127

Rh "I know what it is," declared Roger. "It's one of those gasoline launches."

"I didn't know they had them at the Hall," returned Dave.

"We haven't any, but there are several on the river. Here she comes now!"

As Roger spoke, the gasoline launch shot into view. The craft was about twenty-five feet long and correspondingly broad of beam, and carried an engine of several horse-power.

"Why, I declare, there are Gus Plum and Chip Macklin!" cried Phil. "They must have hired that craft."

"They are coming this way," said Dave. "I hope they don't come too close."

"Hi, there, look where you are going!" cried Roger, loudly. "Don't run us down!"

"Get out of the way!" came roughly from Gus Plum. And he kept the gasoline launch to her course.

"They'll certainly run us down!" ejaculated Phil, leaping up in alarm. "Hi, Gus, turn to your left! To your left!" he yelled.

By this time the launch was dangerously close. With frantic haste Roger set to work to row out of the way and Dave did the same. They had to pull directly for the bank of the river, and as they shot shoreward the launch scraped their stern, and turned the rowboat over on its side.