The man on the rail started.

"Are you going to turn back?" he shouted.

"No!" declared Frank.

"Get ready to fire," said the scoundrel calmly.

"I guess they've got us," spoke Andy, in a low voice to his brother.

"We can't risk being fired at."

"No, I suppose not," answered Frank bitterly. "We'll have to run back."

He let the head of his craft fall off in the wind.

"That's more sensible," commented the man on the rail. "Good-bye!" he called sarcastically as the vessels separated, the one towing the damaged motor craft forging ahead, while the _Gull_ sailed off on the backward tack.

There were bitter feelings in the hearts of Frank and Andy Racer. They had almost solved the mystery, only to lose at the last moment. But they resolved not to give up.

CHAPTER XVI

ON THE SEARCH

For some time after they had been ordered back from their pursuit of the strange vessel neither Frank nor Andy said anything. They were thinking too hard for mere words. Finally the younger lad expressed himself.

"Well, wouldn't that spoil your clam chowder?"

"It sure would," agreed Frank, who was used to queer remarks from his brother.

"He must be up to something crooked or he wouldn't be so anxious to have us stop following him," went on the younger Racer lad.

"That's right. And I was so sure I'd find out what the mystery was!

But I didn't count on the cannon."

"No, it wouldn't have been safe to risk a shot. We might have sunk."

"But I'll not give up!" exclaimed Frank determinedly. "We've got some clues now, and we can follow them. Just notice which way they're sailing, Andy."

"What good will that do?"

"I intend to circle back in a short time, and see if I can pick them up. It's one thing for him to order us back, but we have just as much right on the ocean as he has, and he can't keep us off. If we stay far enough back they can't see us, and we can find out where they're going."

"Where do you think they're heading for?"

"Give it up, but I know one thing. It's evident that this man, whoever he is, wants to keep out of observation. That is proved by the fact that he once had this damaged motor boat in tow of another gasolene craft, and for some reason he gave it up. He may have anch.o.r.ed it in some out-of-the-way place, and has only just now gone for it. That's what he wanted of Jim Hedson's boat, but we spoiled his plans. Now he has another sailing craft to tow the prize in."

"I believe you're right, Frank, but where do you suppose he's taking it?"

"Give it up, but I'm going to keep on the search for him. If there's a chance of bringing back Paul's memory I'm going to do it."

"And I'm with you!" exclaimed Andy heartily.

The two brothers cast backward glances at the vessel with which they had had a clash. It was rapidly disappearing in a slight haze that was arising, and soon Frank thought it would be safe to turn about, sail with the wind, and take after the mysterious man.

But he did not count on the weather. Soon the wind increased in violence, and there was a choppy sea.

"I don't like this," remarked Andy, as their small craft pitched and tossed on the waves. "I don't mean I'm seasick, or anything like that, but we're getting pretty far out, and with a storm coming on toward night--"

"That's right," agreed Frank. "We'll have to turn back. It's tough luck, just as we're on the right track, but it can't be helped. It wouldn't be right to make mom and dad worry. We'll beat it back for home."

But the wind came up with such sudden violence, and the sea ran so high, that the best the boys could do was to run for shelter. In fact it was only with considerable risk that they made a safe harbor, for with a rising tide and a cross current their small craft was in a bad way.

"We'll never make Harbor View!" cried Frank above the noise of the wind and the spatter of the salt spume on deck.

"What'll we do then?" shouted Andy. The two brothers had donned their oilskins which were glistening with moisture in the fading light of the day.

"Run for Mardene and anchor there. Then we can go home on the railroad."

"All right. Got any cash?"

"Enough for fares I guess."

It was some hours later when two tired boys entered the Racer cottage, where they found their father and mother not a little alarmed at their absence in the storm which had rapidly developed.

"But we're on the right track!" cried Frank with enthusiasm.

"How's that?" asked his father.

"We saw the mysterious man, and he had your motor boat, Paul."

"I'm not sure it was my boat," answered Paul. "I can't seem to remember that I ever owned one."

"Well, that man had possession of it, whoever it was," went on Andy.

"And he was quite threatening, too," he added, as he related about the bra.s.s cannon.

"I'm glad you boys had sense enough to turn back," spoke Mr. Racer.

"Don't take any chances with such scoundrels. The probability is that he wouldn't have shot at you, but it isn't safe to run the risk. But, Paul, is your memory any better for what Frank and Andy have told you?"

"No, I'm afraid not. I think--yes, I can remember something more!" he suddenly cried. "I think I was once in a chase after that same man.

Now that you boys speak of it my mind is a little clearer, but there is still that haze. I'm sure I was after that man for something that belonged to me or my father. And I remember something else?"

"What is it?" cried Andy eagerly.

"It has something to do with a doctor. My father is ill, or was ill, I can dimly recollect that. And I seem to see a nurse in a uniform, and--and--but it is all so hazy and blank!" and again the poor lad pa.s.sed his hand over his aching head, in a vain endeavor to remember.

"There, never mind," soothed Mrs. Racer. "That's enough for to-night.

My! how it rains! I'm glad you boys are not out in the storm."