here goes to
reduce speed another notch, to be on the safe side."

Of course it was useless thinking of having anything hot while going
along at even half speed, much as they would have enjoyed a cup of
coffee to warm them up, for the rain and fog made the air seem chilly.

"But in a race every minute ought to count," remarked Jack, when Jimmie
suggested this thing of stopping half an hour. "This is our running
time, you know. After four o'clock we can hold up all we want. In
fact we have to, as nothing gained by keeping on then counts."

And so they ate a cold "snack," as Jack called it, while pursuing their
course down the river. Jimmie was again perched in the bow, talking
when his jaws were not otherwise taken up in masticating his sandwich.

"Seems to me the fog is lifting just a little," suggested Jack.

"I don't belave it," objected the other. "Me eyes is clane tired
tryin' to say into the mess beyant. Sometimes I do be thinkin' I
glimpse a big stameboat comin' straight for us; and just whin I'm
shoutin' to ye to back wather, I discover that it do be a fraud. Right
now the same delusion sames to strike me, an' sure am I dramin', or is
that something like a house below? Jack, darlint, it moves, sure it
do! The wolf is comin' at last! Back her, Jack, back her, me bye!
It's a stameboat this time right enough, and bearin' dead for us, by
the same token!"

And the boy at the motor knew the emergency which he had been
anticipating for the last three hours had suddenly come upon them, for
a packet was pushing up the river just ahead, and aiming direct for the
little launch!

CHAPTER V.

AROUSED AT MIDNIGHT.

"Hold tight, Jimmie!" cried Jack.

"I am that!" shrilled the Irish lad, crouched in the bow, with his eyes
staring wildly at the dreadful shape that was swiftly drawing closer to
them, as though bent on running the motor boat down.

Jack had changed his plan at the critical instant. He had a peculiar
faculty for grasping a situation, and solving a problem. Although he
had made up his mind to reverse in a case like this, it flashed over
him that such a course just then would have but one result--the
collision might be deferred for a few seconds; but if the approaching
steamboat continued to advance, it must take place after all.

Better to throw on full power, and try to slide off to one side, thus
giving the big craft the right of way.

It was done in a twinkling. The _Tramp_ shot