"Hurrah! just the thing!"
There was a small rowboat stored away on board the Swallow, and this was now brought forth, along with two pairs of oars.
"Gwine ter row ober, eh?" observed Aleck Pop. "Racken you dun bettah been careful wot youse do."
"We shall go armed," answered Tom.
The boys soon had the rowboat floating on the lake, and they leaped in, each with a pair of oars, and with a pistol stowed away in his pocket.
From the start those on board of the Peacock had been afraid that the yacht was following them, and now they were certain of it.
"Two boys putting off in a rowboat," announced Captain Langless.
"They are Tom and Sam Rover," answered Arnold Baxter, after a brief survey through a marine glass.
"How did they get to know enough to follow this craft?"
"I'm sure I don't know. But those Rover boys are slick, and always were."
"What will you do when they come up?"
"Warn them off."
"I've got an idea, dad," came from Dan.
"Well?"
"Why not get out of sight and let Captain
