All three braced up, and the big boat went forward at an increased rate of speed.

"Hullo!" cried Harry, presently. "Jerry, doesn't that look like Si Peters'

yacht?"

And Harry pointed over to the west sh.o.r.e of the lake, where a craft had just emerged from behind a small headland.

"It is the Peters' yacht, sure enough," replied Jerry, after studying the craft.

"If she c.u.ms dis way, we'll hab lively times," remarked Blumpo.

"That's true, Blumpo. Come, maybe we can get away from her."

The boys kept steadily on their course, and for a long time those on the yacht seemed to pay no attention to them.

But after awhile the big boat put on another tack, and fifteen minutes later it was within hailing distance. Then they saw that Si Peters and Crosby were in posession. They had with them five other Rockpoint lads, including Banner and Graves.

"Hi, you fellows, stop rowing!" yelled Peters at the top of his voice.

"Mind your own business, Si Peters," retorted Harry.

"You won't stop?"

"No. Leave us alone."

"We want you to give up Jerry Upton."

"Give him up?"

"Exactly. Come up alongside and let him jump on board of the yacht."

"That's as cool as a cake of ice!" cried Jerry. "You want everything, don't you?"

"We are going to get square with you, Jerry Upton!" put in Wash Crosby.

"Let us pull away as fast as we can," whispered Harry. "Those chaps mean trouble."

"Dat's de talk," said Blumpo, who was the worst scared of the three.

They bent to their oars, and soon moved off a hundred feet or more.

Then Si Peters ran out to the jib of the yacht.

"Stop!" he commanded. "Pull another yard and you'll be sorry for it."

"We'll risk it," replied Jerry.

"We'll run you down!"

"You won't dare!" yelled Harry, in alarm.

"Won't we? Just see if we won't!"

At once Si Peters gave some directions to Wash Crosby, who was at the wheel. The course of the yacht was slightly changed, and now the craft was headed directly for the boat containing our friends.

"Anudder smash-up, shuah as you're born!" groaned Blumpo, and he prepared to leap into the lake.

"Stay where you are!" ordered Jerry. "I'll check their little game."

Reaching into a locker, the young oarsman brought out his gun. Leaping on one of the seats, he pointed the weapon at Si Peters' head.

"Sheer off!" he cried. "Sheer off, or I'll fire on you!"

CHAPTER XII.

AN ATTACK IN THE DARK.

Si Peters was nearly dumfounded at the unexpected turn affairs had taken.

The bully at once gave the necessary directions, and the yacht pa.s.sed to windward of the other boat.

"A good idea, Jerry!" exclaimed Harry. "That will make them steer clear of us for good, I reckon."

"If they haven't got guns of their own, Harry."

The boys on the yacht were evidently much crestfallen. They had hoped to get Jerry in their power, but that plan was defeated. They dropped behind several hiding places, and again headed for the big row-boat.

But once more Jerry outwitted them. Calling to Blumpo to steady the temporary mast, he climbed to the top, his gun slung over his shoulder.

From this elevated point he was able to sweep the yacht's deck from stem to stern.

"Now turn about, or I'll fire on you, as sure as fate!" he ordered.

"You think you are smart, don't you," sneered Wash Crosby.

"I'm too smart for your crowd," retorted Jerry.

"We can fire as well as you," put in Graves.

"If you had a gun, which you haven't," retorted Jerry.

The boys on the yacht growled among themselves, but could do nothing. Wash Crosby tried to throw a piece of iron on the row-boat, but it fell short.

Then Harry retaliated by shooting through the yacht's main-sail.

Seeing the boys on the big row-boat meant business, Si Peters and his crowd withdrew from the encounter.