CHAPTER XXII
THE COLLISION
What shouting and cheers greeted the motor boys as they slowed uptheir craft! The din was deafening, augmented as it was by the shrillwhistles. The _Tortoise_, too, was received with an ovation as she cameover the line second, but it was easy to see the victory of the smallerboat was popular.
"Congratulations, boys!" called Mr. Smith as he run his craftalongside. "You beat me fair and square."
He did not refer to the fact that one of his cylinders went out ofcommission, but for which fact he undoubtedly would have won. The boysappreciated this.
The boys accepted their victory modestly, and when they were sent forto go aboard the judges' boat and get the prize Bob was for backingout, while neither Ned nor Jerry felt much like going through theceremony.
"Tell 'em to send it over," suggested Bob.
"That would hardly look nice," replied Jerry. "Come on, let's all gotogether. It will soon be over. Who'd have thought we could have buttedinto the lime-light so soon?"
Having received the cup and stowed it safely away Jerry was about tosteer the _Dartaway_ back to Deer Island when he was hailed by Mr.Smith.
"Oh I say, you're not going away, are you?" asked the skipper of the_Tortoise_.
"I think we'd better be getting back," replied Jerry. "We have tostraighten out the camp."
"Nonsense," said Mr. Smith. "The fun's not half over. Why there's noend of good things to eat over there. The committee made arrangementsto dine all contestants, and I'm sure you boys are the chief ones afterthe handy way in which you won that race. Really now, you must stop abit with us."
"I guess we'd better," said Bob, in a whisper. "It wouldn't be politeto refuse."
"You were willing enough when it came to sliding out of the cupproposition," said Jerry, "but now, when there's something to eat,you're right on the job, Chunky."
"Guess we might as well," put in Ned. "I could dally with a bit ofchicken myself."
"Well, far be it from me to stand in the way," said Jerry, and,throwing the wheel around he followed the _Tortoise_, which, with theother boats, was making toward shore.
In the grove the boys found Mr. Smith had not exaggerated matters whenhe said there "was no end of good things to eat." Large tables had beenspread under the trees and waiters were flying here and there. The boyswere a bit confused by all the excitement, but Mr. Smith soon foundthem, and introducing them to some of his friends, got places for themat one of the best tables.
"I guess you boys will have plenty of chances to race while you'rehere," said Mr. Smith. "I hear a number of skippers want to try issueswith you."
"Well, they'll find us ready," said Jerry. "We're rather new at thegame, but we'll do our best."
"That's the way to talk," cried Mr. Smith. "Play the game to the limit,no matter what it is. I'd like another brush myself. Your boat cancertainly go."
"I think you could beat us," said Jerry frankly. "If you hadn't hadthat accident you would have won."
But now the dinner was almost over. Ice cream was being served, andwhen every one had eaten their fill, there arose from the head tablewhere the regatta committee sat a cry of:
"Speeches! Speeches!"
Then came applause and cheers. The chairman of the committee arose and,looking down toward where the motor boys were sitting, began:
"I'm sure it would give us all pleasure to hear a few words from thewinners of the motor boat race. They are newcomers to our midst, and,as such we welcome them."
"Hear! Hear!" cried the crowd. "Speech! Speech!"
For a moment the boys felt a sort of cold chill go down their backs. Itwas the first time they had been placed in such a position. Bob lookedat Ned, Ned looked at Jerry, and Jerry glanced down at Bob.
"Say something, Jerry!" whispered Ned.
"Yes; go ahead; talk!" exclaimed Bob.
"Wait until I get you both back to camp!" muttered Jerry, as he pushedback his chair and arose.
His heart was beating fast and there was a roaring in his ears. He wasgreatly embarrassed, but he felt he must say something to show that heappreciated the honor paid him and his comrades.
"I'm sure my friends and I are deeply sensible of this welcome," hesaid. "We didn't expect to win the race, though we did our best.We're very glad to be here among you, and we hope to continue theacquaintances we have made. And I want to say that if one of Mr.Smith's cylinders--I mean if one of Mr. Cylinder's smith--er--that isif the boat Mr. Smith cylinders--I mean owns--if his cylinder--er--thatis if his boat's culander--cylinder--hadn't cracked Mr. Smith's head--Iwould say if the cylinder--"
"What he means," said Mr. Smith gallantly coming to the relief of poorJerry, "is that if I hadn't had the misfortune to crack the forwardcylinder I might not have been beaten so badly. But I want to saythat that's all nonsense. It was a fair race, and won fairly, and the_Dartaway_ did it. So I ask you to join with me in giving three cheersfor the owners."
The cheers were given with a will, and the boys felt the blushes comingto their cheeks. Altogether it was a jolly time, and one the lads neverforgot.
"We didn't make any mistake coming here," said Jerry, who had taken hisplace at the wheel as they started for their camp. "It's almost asmuch fun as automobiling in Mexico or crossing the plains."
The boys were proceeding rather slowly as they had not yet familiarizedthemselves with the lake and their bearings, and they did not want torun into anything.
For a while the _Dartaway_ skimmed along, there being no other craftnear. The water lapped the sides and broke away in a ripple of silverwaves.
Suddenly Jerry threw out the gear clutch, and began spinning the wheelaround. At the same instant Bob and Ned, who had been looking to therear, turned around and saw a big black shape in front of them.
"Ahoy there! Schooner ahoy!" called Jerry. "What do you mean bycruising about without a light. You've no right to do that. Look outthere. You'll foul us!"
The sound of feet running about on a deck could be heard. Then therecame a moment of silence followed by a sudden jar and a grinding crash.