's who it was," cried the small lad, "I thought somehow the
voice and something about the man seemed familiar. He's that old beach
comber who lives outside Hampton."

"That's the son uv a sea-swab," roared the captain, "oh, if I could
only get my hands on him, I'd--"

The fate the captain had reserved for Hank was doomed not to be known,
for as he was speaking Paul Perkins gave a sudden shout:

"Look--look there!" he cried, pointing.

Sneaking up to the tented island was the familiar outline of Sam
Redding's hydroplane.

CHAPTER XXII

THE ESCAPE OF THE BULLY

The group standing about the newly rescued lad on the veranda of the
deserted bungalow galvanized into instant action.

"Jack Curtiss and Bill Bender are in her!" shouted Rob, "come on,
scouts, we'll get after them while we can."

With a shout the Boy Scouts ran for the boat and speedily pulled out to
the Flying Fish. Hastily as they executed this move, however, the two
in the other boat had had time to head her about and start at top speed
for the mouth of the inlet.

"Clap on more sail, my hearties," roared the captain, almost beside
himself with excitement, "I want ter get my hands on them two piratical
craft."

Rob, with a look of grim determination on his usually pleasant face,
held the Flying Fish true on her course, but, heavily laden as she was,
she could not make her usual speed and the hydroplane soon distanced
her. Jack Curtiss stood in her stern and waved a mocking hand at the
Boy Scouts as the light-draft craft shot over the shoals and shallows
with case while the Flying Fish had to lose much time and way by
threading in and out seeking the deeper water.

"Douse my toplights, I can't stand that," bellowed the irate Captain
Hudgins. "I'll put a shot in that jackanapes' locker."

With these words, and before any of the boys could stop him, he rose to
his feet and sent a bullet from his ponderous revolver flying in the
direction of the fleeing motor boat. It missed and hit the water near
by, sending up a little fountain of spray.

Even at the distance they were the occupants of the Flying Fish could
see the fear which this warlike move inspired in the bully and his
companion. They threw themselves flat in their boat till only the
hands of Bill, who was steering, were visible.

They need not have feared, however. The captain's hasty move brought
down on his head Rob's wrath, though the young leader could not find it
in hi