"I think I would, lad. She had a rather dirty mainsail and jib, and each had a new patch of white near the top. Then, too, her rig is a little different from what we have around here. Looked like a Southern boat." "Have you your boat handy?" "Yes, she's right at the end of this street. Do you want me to follow up that crowd?" "Could your boat catch the _Flyaway_, do you think?" "My boat, the _Searchlight_, is as good a yacht as there is anywhere around, if I do say it myself," answered Martin Harris promptly. "It you don't believe it, try her and see." "We will try her," came promptly from Dick. "And the sooner you begin the chase the better it will suit me." "All right; we'll start as soon as I've swallowed this coffee," answered the skipper of the _Searchlight_. "But, hold on, this may prove a long search." "Do you want to make terms?" "I wasn't thinking of that. I'll leave it to you as to what the job is worth, after we're done. I was thinking that I haven't any provender aboard my yacht, if we want to stay out any length of time." "I'll fix that," answered Dick. "Come, Sam. You say the yacht is at the foot of the street?" "Yes." "We'll be there in less than five minutes." "Where are you going--to buy provisions?" "Yes." Dick made off, followed not only by Sam, but likewise by Tom. He found a large grocery close at hand, and here purchased some coffee, sugar, canned meat and fish, a small quantity of vegetables, and also several loaves of bread and some salt. To this Tom added a box of crackers and Sam some cake and fruit, and with their arms loaded down they hurried to the _Searchlight_. Martin Harris was on hand, and ready to cast off. "Hullo, you did lay in some things?" he grinned. "I reckon you calculate this chase to last some time." "We've got enough for several days, anyway--that is, all but--water," returned Dick. "I've got a whole barrel full of that forward, lad." "Then we are ready to leave. I hope, though, we run the _Flyaway_ down before noon," concluded the elder Rover, as he hopped on board. Leaving Sam to stow away the stores as he saw fit, Dick and Tom sprang in to assist Martin Harris, and soon the mainsail and jib were set, and they turned away from the dock and began the journey down the Hudson. As soon as they were clear of the other boats, the skipper set his topsail and flying jib, and they bowled along at a merry gait, the wind being very nearly in their favor and neither too strong nor too slack. "Now I'd like to hear the particulars of this case," remarked Martin Harris, as he proceeded to make himself comfortable at the tiller. "You see, I want to know just what I am doing. I don't want to get into any trouble with the law." "You won't get into any trouble. Nobody has a right to run off with a girl against her will," replied Dick. "That's true. But why are they running off with her?"