human
There must be some way of stopping them! cried Mr. Howbridge, who was quite excited.
gpt
Isn't there a motor boat around here--a police boat or something? Neale, can't you get up steam and take after them?
human
The _Bluebird_ could never catch that small boat, answered the boy.
gpt
And there doesn't seem to be anything else around here now, except rowboats and canalers.
human
But something must be done! insisted the lawyer.
gpt
An alarm must be given. The police must be notified. Where's the keeper of the lock? He may know these ruffians, and where they are staying. We must do something!
human
Well, they're getting away for the time being, murmured Neale, as he gazed up the river on which the motor boat was now hardly discernible as it was turning a bend.
gpt
But we're going the same way, and we may come across them. Are you sure, Ruth, that these are the same men who robbed you?
human
Positive! declared the girl.
gpt
Aren't you, Agnes?
human
No, I can't be sure, answered her sister with a shake of her head.
gpt
The men looked just as rough--and just as ugly--as the two who attacked us. But it was raining so hard, and we were in the doorway, and the umbrella was giving such trouble--no, Ruth, she added,
human
I couldn't be _sure_.
gpt
But I am! declared the oldest Kenway girl.
human
I had a good look at the face of at least one of the men in the boat, and I know it was he who took my box! Oh, if I could only get it back I wouldn't care what became of the men!
gpt
It ought to be an easy matter to trace them, said the lawyer.
human
Their motor boat must be registered and licensed, as ours must be. We can trace them through that, I think. Neale, would you know the men if you saw them again?
gpt
I might, answered the boy.
human
I didn't have a very good look at them, though. They both had their backs toward me, and their hats were pulled down over their faces. As Ruth says, however, they looked rough and desperate.
gpt
We must take some action, declared the lawyer, with his characteristic energy.
human
The authorities must be notified and that motor boat traced. We shall have to stop here to register our own craft and get a license, and it will give us an opportunity to make some inquiries.
gpt
Meanwhile those men will get away! exclaimed Ruth.
human
And we'll never get our jewelry back. If we could get mother's ring, she added,
gpt
They can't get very far away if they stick to the river, said Mr. Howbridge.
human
The river flows into Lake Macopic and there is no outlet from that. If we have to pursue the men all the way to the lake we'll do it.
gpt
Well, then let's get busy, suggested Neale.
human
The sooner we have our boat registered and licensed, the sooner we can start after those men. Of course we can't catch them, for their boat goes so much faster than ours. But we can trace them.
gpt
I hope we can, murmured Ruth, gazing up the river, on which there was now no trace of the boat containing the rough men.
human
We have two quests, now, she added.
gpt
Looking for our jewelry box, and your father, Neale. And I hope we find your father, whether I get back my things or not--anything but the ring.
human
Let us hope we get both,