"It's a launch." "It is the boys.

We have frightened them off," answered Miss Elting.
The girls rowed quickly home, but ere they had reached the entrance to the secret creek they were startled by the sound of a shrill scream.
They recognized the voice as Tommy's and began to shout, and to row with all their might.

A moment later, just as they were about to turn into the opening with their boat, a canoe shot out and darted across their bows, disappearing in the darkness.
"A man, a man!" yelled Tommy as Harriet shouted to know if the two girls were all right.

Tommy threw open the door and in her excitement walked off the after deck of the "Red Rover" and fell forward into the stream.
"Jane, do you recognize that man ?" cried Harriet excitedly.
"Yes," exclaimed Jane, "he's the man I saw this afternoon, and he's our mysterious enemy too, or my name's not Jane McCarthy.".