The Rover Roys on the Ocean | Page 3

never set foot on my boat, and I'm not afraid of you," roared

Mumps. "You think you got the best of me at Putnam Hall, but you
didn't, and I want you to know it."
"How is your friend, Dan Baxter?" cried Sam. "Has he landed in jail
yet?"
"Never mind Dan Baxter," growled Mumps, growing red in the face;
and then the two yachts moved so far apart that further talk was
impossible.
"Well, I didn't expect to meet him," muttered Dick, after the three
brothers had cooled down a bit. "He must have known we were in this
boat."
"I saw his craft last night, down near Catskill," said Tom. "I'll wager he
has been following us up."
"He wouldn't do that unless he had some reason for it."
"I believe he would sink us if he could," put in Sam. "To my mind he is
almost as bad as Baxter."
"Hardly, Sam; Dan Baxter is a thief and the son of a thief," came from
Tom. "By the way, I wonder if Arnold Baxter is still in the hospital at
Ithaca."
"More than likely, since he was so badly hurt by that fall from the train.
If we -- Look, Mumps has turned around and is following us!"
Sam pointed to the Falcon, and his brothers saw that he was right. Soon
the larger craft was again within hailing distance.
"Hi, Mumps, what are you following us for?" demanded, Dick, as he
stepped up on the stern seat.
"Didn't know I was following you," was the sour rejoinder. "I have a
right to sail where I please."
"If you have any game in mind I advise you not to try it on."

"What game would I have, Dick Rover?"
"Some game to get yourself into trouble."
"I know my own business."
"Alright, you can go about your business. But don't try to step on our
toes - or you'll get the worst of it."
"So you're going to play the part of a bully?"
"No; I'm only giving you fair warning. If you let us alone we'll let you
alone."
"You have been watching the movements of the Falcon since day
before yesterday," went on Mumps, slowly and distinctly, as though he
expected his words to have a great effect.
"Watching your boat - " began Dick and Tom simultaneously
"Yes, watching my boat - and I don't like it," answered Fenwick, and
his face grew dark.
"Why should we watch your boat?" demanded Sam.
"Never mind why. You've been watching her, and that's enough."
"And why should we put ourselves out to that extent - when we are
merely out for pleasure," said Dick. "There is no fun in watching a
fellow like you, I'm sure."
"John is right; ye have been a-watchin' this boat," growled the old sailor
named Bill Goss, who, it may be as well to state here, was thoroughly
under his younger master's thumb for reasons best known to himself.
"If I had my way I'd wollop the lot on ye!" And he shook his fist at the
occupants of the Spray.
"You keep your oar out!" cried Dick sternly. "You are entirely
mistaken in your suspicions. We are not spying on you or anybody, and

if you -"
Dick was permitted to go no further. While Bill Goss was speaking to
the Spray had been caught by a sudden puff of wind and sent over to
starboard. Now the Falcon came on swiftly, and in an instant her sharp
bow crashed into the Rover boy's boat. The shock of the collision
caused the Spray to shiver from stem to stern, and then, with a jagged
hole in her side, she began to slowly sink.
CHAPTER II
THE ENCOUNTER ON THE RIVER
For the instant after the collision occurred none of the Rover boys
uttered a word. Tom and Sam stared in amazement at Mumps, while
Dick gazed helplessly at the damage done.
"Pull her away, quick, Bill!" cried Mumps in a low voice to the old
sailor, who at once sprang forward and shoved the two yachts apart
with a long boat-hook. Then the rudder of the Falcon was put hard a
port, and she swung, away for a distance of half a dozen yards.
"We are sinking!" gasped Tom, who was the first of the three brothers
to find his voice.
"Mumps, you rascal, what do you mean by this work?" demanded Dick.
And then, without waiting for an answer, he turned to Sam. "Steer for
the shore and beach her -- if you can."
"I don't believe we can make it, Dick. But we can try."
"We'll have you locked up for this, Mumps," shouted Tom.
"I couldn't help It -- it was an accident," returned the former sneak of
Putnam Hall