of the mainsail. With the added press of sail the Lena
Knobloch heeled over until her lee rail was nearly awash.

A strong wind was coming out of the northwest, favoring the maneuver of
von Kluck, but kicking up considerable commotion on the harbor. Waves
were running so high as to make navigation of small craft exceedingly
difficult if not dangerous.

Carrying full staysail, jib, foresail and mainsail the schooner plunged
into the waves, sending cascades of water over her forecastle with every
leap. She was loaded deeply and the boys could see that she would prove
to be what the sailors term a "wet ship."

Every moment the speed was increasing. The mate had trimmed the sheets to
the exact point for greatest efficiency.

Suddenly all hands were startled by a hail from a point on the starboard
bow. They saw a small motor boat riding dizzily upon the crest of a wave
one moment to be dropped out of sight in the trough the next.

"Ahoy, the Knobloch!" came a cry.

"Ahoy, the launch!" bawled out the mate in a voice of thunder. "What do
you want? Stand off or we'll run you down!"

"We want those passengers of yours!" was the reply.

"All right, come on and get 'em!" yelled the mate above the noise of
singing wind in the rigging. "We can't stop now!"

"If you don't heave to I'll fire!" was the answer.

"Good night!" cried Jimmie from a position near the lee rail, where he
could look out beneath the main boom. "That's Mackinder!"

A revolver shot sounded amidst the tumult of rushing waters and singing
rigging. The echo was quickly bitten off by the rising wind. The shot
sounded dully above the humming and roaring.

Before Ned could detain him Jimmie fired. Faintly the boys heard a crash
aboard the motor boat. The green starboard sidelight of the launch
disappeared. Urged on by the tremendous press of wind in her sails the
Lena Knobloch was fast dropping the launch astern.

No other shots were fired at the schooner. Scrambling from his position
at the starboard rail Jimmie made his way aft to a point beside the
helmsman. Here he peered eagerly into the darkness astern.

"I can't see them at all!" he announced, turning presently to his
companions, who were grouped about the little skylight.

"Perhaps we've shaken them off for keeps!" ventured Jack. "Did you see
who that was with Mackinder?"

"I thought," said Harry, "that it was his pal, Norton!"

"Well, they're safely out of reach now!" declared Ned. "I'm glad