The next minute, however, a quick look back by Rob showed that the hydroplane was coming ahead again, and that the engine trouble, whatever it was, had been adjusted.
As they neared the turning point, Rob saw, to his dismay, that the hydroplane was creeping up faster and faster.

It was the last lap, and if Sam Redding's boat passed them at the stake the race was as good as over.
"Come on, Flying Fish! Come on!" shouted Rob, as the hydroplane crept ever nearer and nearer to his boat's stern.
Rob noticed, as he swung a trifle wide of the stake raft, that it seemed to be the intention of Jack Curtiss, who was at the wheel, to swing the hydroplane round the sharp angle of the course inside of the Flying Fish.

Guessing that this would mean disaster to her ill-advised occupants, he waved his hand at them to keep out.
"When we need your advice we'll send for it.

This is the time we've got you!" yelled Jack Curtiss, bending low over his wheel, as he grazed by the Flying Fish's stern to take the inside course.
At the same instant, so quickly that the boys did not even get a mental picture of it, the hydroplane overturned.
Taking the curve at such a speed and at such a sharp angle had, as Jack had surmised, proved too much for her stability.

Her occupants were pitched struggling into the water.
"Shall we pick them up ?" yelled Merritt.
"No," shouted Rob; "they've all got life belts on.