"We haven't got your bond," said Fred quickly. He was somewhat uneasy as he was aware when he glanced keenly at the man that he was unusually strong and if he really had obtained possession of the security in a way that was open to suspicion it was quite probable that he would not hesitate to defend what he had taken.
Fred glanced anxiously about the dock to ascertain if help was near in case it should be required.
"Where is it?" demanded the stranger.
"We found it on the boat."
"Yes, I know you did," interrupted the man, "but what I want is for you to let me see it or tell me where it is."
"I tell you we haven't got it," said Fred.
"Where is it?"
"It's where it will be safe until it can be looked up and we find out whose it is."
"Where did you get that bond?" demanded George, abruptly breaking in upon the conversation.
"Did I say it was mine?" demanded the stranger.
"You asked for it."
"If I recall, I asked about it."
"That's the same thing," retorted George.
"Not quite," said the man. "Now then, will you tell me where it is?"
"I don't think we shall," spoke up Fred. "If you'll tell me who owns it and what it was doing on our motor-boat, then perhaps I'll be willing to talk with you."
"Then you say you'll not tell me where it is?" said the man, speaking slowly and looking savagely at Fred as he spoke.
"I shan't tell you," said Fred. "Now, if you're done, we'll start."
As he spoke, Fred stepped on board the Black Growler, an action which was speedily followed by his companions. Advancing to the wheel Fred inspected everything to satisfy himself that all things were in readiness for their departure and then said to the man waiting on the dock, "We'll have to bid you good-by."
At the same time he turned on the power. As George and John pushed the little boat out from the dock it began to move, but not before the canal-man unbidden suddenly leaped on board.
"Thank you for your very kind invitation," he said as he seated himself on the cushions.
"We didn't ask you to come," spoke up Fred, "and we don't want your company. You'll have to go ashore."
"Is that so?" laughed the man banteringly.
"Yes, sir, it's so!" retorted Fred.
"Well, then if I go ashore I think there will be somebody going with me."
"You're mistaken," said Fred. "We're going down among the Thousand Islands."
"That doesn't make any difference to me. I'm going to find out who took that bond. If you don't tell me where it is then I shall go to a constable or justice and get out a warrant for you. You have owned up that you had the bond on board your boat. It was a stolen bond and I have been trying to run it down for some time. Now I have found it, or at least I have found the party that had it, and you try to bluff me by saying that you won't tell me where it is. Now, I'll give you your choice. You can have my company, for I shan't leave you until I find out more about it, or you can try to put me ashore and I'll get help. Just as sure as you're sitting here I'll swear out a warrant and have you arrested for stealing that bond."
The boys were inexperienced and for a moment they stared blankly at one another, startled more than they were willing to acknowledge by the bold threat of their unwelcome passenger.
"Well, what is it?" said the man a moment later when no reply had been given to his questions. "Which do you want?"
"The thing for us to do," said Grant in a low voice to Fred, "is to keep right on. We'll take this man down to your grandfather's island and when we get there we'll tell him all about it. He'll know best what to do and we'll wait for his advice before we do anything."
"That's all right, Soc," said Fred, greatly relieved by the words of his friend. Then turning to their passenger he said more boldly than before he had spoken, "I guess we'll take our chances and have you go with us. We'll find out more about this later and give you a chance to tell your story."
"It's all the same to me," said the man glibly. "I'll be glad to have the ride anyway. It's been a long time since I have been on the St. Lawrence River."
Apparently Fred's threat had produced slight effect upon the addition to their party. He spoke as if he were in no fear for himself, while his threat to swear out a warrant for the boys, although it had startled them, had not greatly alarmed any one.
Meanwhile the Black Growler, almost as if she was sharing in the excitement of the boys, was speeding swiftly down the river. The broad expanse of water when she left her dock at Cape Vincent soon was broken by the sight of many islands, some of which were miles in extent while others were tiny little spots, just lifted above the surface of the water.
There was some anxiety on the part of John, that, unfamiliar as they were with the channel, they might strike some hidden rock, but Fred assured his friend that there was slight danger of that in the daytime, as a careful watch was maintained and it was easy for them to follow the course of boats that were in advance of them.
"Look yonder!" said George, suddenly pointing as he spoke to a yacht that was swiftly approaching from the Canadian side of the river.
"Do you know what boat that is?" exclaimed John.
"We ought to know it," said Fred. "That's the Varmint II."
"She beat us down here by a good deal," suggested George, who was keenly observing the graceful and swift little motor-boat that was steadily approaching.
"I don't know about that," retorted Fred. "She may be just coming now."
"Don't you believe it," retorted George. "She has been here a long time and they're just out testing her on the river. Are you going to try to race with her here?"
"I am not," retorted Fred promptly. "It will be time enough when we see what she can do in the real race. That won't be for three weeks yet."
"How many races do they have down here in the summer?" inquired John.
"I don't know," answered Fred. "Two, I guess."
"One will be enough this summer, I'm thinking," laughed John. "What are we going to do with that man?" As he spoke John glanced again at the uninvited and unwelcome passenger who apparently was taking his ease on the cushions in the stern of the boat.
"I'm going to do nothing," said Fred quickly. "I think I will leave him alone until we land at my grandfather's island and then I will tell him all about it."
"What do you suppose he is?" inquired John, glancing again at the man, who apparently was unaware of the interest his presence on board the Black Growler had aroused.
"I haven't any idea."
"How did he know about that bond?"
"I can't tell you."
"Do you suppose he stole it?"
"It doesn't seem so to me," said Fred slowly, as he shook his head. "If he stole it I can't understand why he comes down here after it. You would think he would want to put a long distance between himself and that bond after he lost it."
"And yet he seemed bold enough when he told us to tell him where it is. What do you suppose made him think of that?"
"Think of what?"
"Why, that we had put it somewhere."
"It's the most natural thing in the world," retorted Fred glibly. "He would know that fellows like us wouldn't want to keep a bond of that size. I am wondering what it all means."
"First thing you know that man will jump on us all and take the Black Growler away from us. I tell you he's a desperate character. Just look at those hands. If he had his coat off I tell you you would see the muscles of his shoulders stand out like great knots. He's a powerful brute and I don't like his disposition. I wish he was somewhere else."
"I guess he wouldn't attack us," laughed Fred. "We're four to one and even if he's stronger than any one of us he's not as strong as all four of us put together."
"I tell you," said John more positively, "he's a pirate. He's a regular pirate. He stole that bond and tried to take the motor-boat away from us when we were on the canal and I shall feel mighty well satisfied if he doesn't get it away from us now before we go very much farther."
"I confess it's all mighty queer, John, but I don't believe the man will attack us. He has got too many matters just now to look after to try such a fool thing as that."
"But I can't understand why he forces himself on board and why he insists on going with us down the river. I shouldn't be surprised to have him stop us when we are in some quiet place and search the boat. How does he know that the bond isn't here?"
"Because he has searched the Black Growler already," replied Fred. "You may be sure he has gone through every nook and cranny before we came back from the bank."
"I guess you're right," assented John, as once more he glanced apprehensively at the man who was the subject of their conversation.
"I don't know of but one way to get even with him," suggested Fred.
"What's that?"
"Why, to set Soc on him and make him answer questions about canals. I'm telling you that if Grant should ask him about how wide the Suez Canal is or how deep the Sault Ste. Marie is he'd get an answer that would surprise him."
"I haven't any doubt about that," said John somewhat ruefully. "The man is a surprise anyway."
John spoke more truly than he knew. The surprise that was occasioned by the presence of their unbidden guest was mild compared with that which soon followed.
The Black Growler, carried forward by the current of the mighty river as well as by her own power, brought the party on board to their destination late in the afternoon.
It was the first time that Fred's friends had seen the spot. The clear running water of the great river, the skies without a cloud, the sight of the numberless camps and cottages, as well as of the many yachts and motor-boats that were to be seen on the river, all combined to increase the interest of the Go Ahead boys.
When at last they arrived at the island owned by Fred's grandfather their enthusiasm became still greater. A beautiful cottage, which really was a house with twenty rooms, was located in a grove of high trees. The boathouse, ample and attractive in every way, and the sight of several skiffs that had been made fast to the dock caused George to exclaim in his impulsive manner, "There isn't a place like it in all the world! I never saw such a spot before in all my life!"
"But you're young yet," suggested Grant soberly.
"But I have seen some things, even if I am young," retorted George. "I thought Mackinac Island was beautiful, but this has some things you can't find up there."
"Spoken like a philosopher," again retorted John. The expression on his face was serious as he hastily made inquiries concerning Grant's missing bag. "The poor chap," he explained, "is in trouble. He can't wear any clothes that fit the rest of us and unless he gets help soon we shall have to lock him in the boathouse for he won't be presentable anywhere."
To Grant's delight his bag already was in his room awaiting his coming. The mistake had occurred at Albany which had caused as much trouble to the owner of the other bag as Grant himself had suffered.
As soon as the boys were ready they all went down to the broad piazza which adjoined the house on three sides and there were greeted cordially by Fred's grandfather and grandmother.
"We're always glad to see Freddie," said Mrs. Button, beaming affectionately upon her grandson, as she spoke, "and you may be sure that his friends are all as welcome as he is."
"Thank you, Mrs. Button," said George promptly. "If you knew how glad we are to be here you might feel almost as if you were doing missionary work in inviting us."
"She will think she's doing missionary work, I'm afraid," spoke up Grant. "I want to warn you, Mrs. Button, that when George gets into the dining room you'll have to drive him out. It's the only way we can get him to stop."
Mrs. Button smiled as she said, "That's just the kind of a guest I like."
Meanwhile Fred had not been with his companions when they had gone to their rooms, for he had remained behind to talk with his grandfather concerning the uninvited passenger who had arrived with them.
"Yes," Fred explained, "he was with some other men, canal-men we thought they were, that boarded us between Utica and Rome and we couldn't get rid of them. I thought at first they were going to try to take the Black Growler away from us, but they didn't do that and when Mr. Stevens came along in the Caledonia and stopped to help us they all ran away. We didn't think that we would ever see any of them again, but up here at Cape Vincent who should show up but this man."
"What did he come for?" inquired Mr. Button. "We couldn't understand it at first," replied Fred, "but, Grandfather, we found under a cushion a bond for five thousand dollars."
"You did WHAT?"
"We found a bond for five thousand dollars."
"What kind of a bond was it?"
"I don't know," said Fred somewhat foolishly. "I know it was a railroad bond."
"What did you do with it?"
"We took it to the bank in Cape Vincent. We left it there with the man who is in charge."
"Did you get a receipt for it?"
"Yes, sir."
"That's right. That's right," said Mr. Button, nodding his head approvingly. "Go on."
"Well, when we came back from the bank whom should we find on board our motor-boat but this same man, that we had seen on the Erie Canal. He demanded that we should give up the bond."
"So he knew about the bond, did he?"
"So it seemed. But we told him we didn't have it. Then he wanted to know what we had done with it and we wouldn't tell him. When we wanted him to go ashore he wouldn't do it, and just stayed on board and said he was coming with us. I thought it was better to let him come--"
"That was kind of you," broke in his grandfather, with a smile.
"I thought it was better to let him come and turn him over to you to deal with than it was for us to have any trouble up there at Cape Vincent."
"That's all right, Fred," said his grandfather. "I'll go right down there and talk with him."
Fred watched his grandfather as he started toward the dock and then he quickly entered the house and went to his room.
A half-hour later when he returned to the piazza and joined his friends who already were seated there, his grandfather, bidding him follow him to the library, said as soon as the door was closed behind them, "What about that bond?"
"I told you all I know."
"You say it was a five thousand dollar bond?"
"Yes, sir."
"And a railroad bond?"
"Yes, sir."
"Do you remember which road?"
"Yes, sir. It was the New York Central."
"But you don't know what kind of a bond?"
"No, sir. I didn't know there was more than one kind."
"Perhaps you'll know more about that later," replied Mr. Button dryly.
"Did this man that came with us know anything more than we did about it?"
Ignoring the question Mr. Button said, "Your friend has gone."
"Who? The man we brought with us?"
"Yes. I had Tom take him over to Alexandria Bay in the Jessie."
"And where is he going?" inquired Fred astounded by the statement of his grandfather.
"He will go to Syracuse. Whether he will stay there or not I do not know."
"But what did he say?" asked Fred somewhat impatiently. "Do you think he stole the bond?"
"There are a good many things that are somewhat strange connected with this affair. I am quite inclined to think your bond is good. About this man, there are some matters that must be cleared up before I can make any explanations to you." Rising as he spoke Mr. Button led the way back to the piazza and Fred was convinced that it was useless for him to talk any more, for the present at least, about the man or the bond.
The following morning the four Go Ahead boys set forth in the Black Growler on a voyage on the river. Fred was eager to show the wonders of the great St. Lawrence to his friends and equally desirous of trying out the motor-boat.
In the time which was to intervene before the race was held he was eager to make himself familiar with every feature of the marvelous little craft. All things were novel and interesting to his companions, both in the scenery through which they were passing and the detailed parts of the Black Growler.
"My grandfather says," exclaimed Fred, "that if we want to we can send over to Henderson Harbor and perhaps can get Sam Hodge to come here. He will be a good man to have on board when we are in that race. I never saw any one that knew more about machinery than he did."
"I'm telling you that you're still youthful," remarked Grant. "Your experience is very limited."
"That may be so," acknowledged Fred with a laugh, "but it's something I'll get over."
"Look yonder!" broke in John. "There's the Varmint II ahead of us. I wonder if you can catch up with her!" As he spoke, John turned and winked slowly at George who at once advanced to Fred's side.
"Of course I can catch her if I want to," declared Fred.
"Which means that if you don't want to you can't catch her," laughed John derisively. "I don't believe there's anything you want more than to catch up with her."
"I can do it," said Fred.
"That's easy to say."
Irritated by the laughter of his companions, who were eager to test the swiftness of their boat, Fred at once turned on more power and the Black Growler instantly responded.
The boat seemed almost to sink a foot or more into the water as she plowed her way up the river.
In a brief time the crew of the Varmint II were aware of the swiftly approaching boat, but instead of entering into the contest they did not increase their speed. In a few minutes the Black Growler swiftly passed the Varmint II and as they did so George said mockingly, "Splendid! Splendid, Fred. All you need is to have the other boat stand still and you can win out every time."
"I gave her every chance," retorted Fred.
"May be you did," answered George, "but she didn't think it was worth while to take up your challenge."
"She didn't dare to," spoke up John, who was loyal to his friend.
"That all may be so," laughed George derisively. There was nothing he enjoyed more than teasing Fred and as this was a comparatively easy matter it is not surprising that he frequently engaged in the task.
Meanwhile the Black Growler swept onward in her course, at last starting on her return voyage. Not far from the island owned by Fred's grandfather was another island which the boys already had been informed had been rented by Mr. Stevens for the summer.
When Fred pointed out the spot his companions were at once interested and suggested that he should stop at the dock, which almost seemed to invite their coming.
"There's Susie Stevens now," called John, pointing as he spoke to a nearby canoe in which two young girls were seated. One of them was paddling, while her companion was seated in the opposite end of the frail little craft.
At the moment of John's discovery apparently Miss Susie also became aware of the approach of the Black Growler. As she lifted her paddle to salute the Go Ahead boys, her companion, who doubtless was unfamiliar with canoes, reached forward to pick up a sweater to wave at the motor-boat; she suddenly destroyed the balance of the little canoe. Instantly it was overturned and both girls were thrown into the St. Lawrence.
A cry of horror and alarm arose from the startled boys when they beheld the accident. In a moment one of the girls was seen swimming near the overturned canoe. The other, however, was not within sight.
"It's time for us to do something!" shouted John, who was almost beside himself in his excitement.
Fred at once had changed the course of the Black Growler but a semi-circle was necessary to be turned before she could approach the place where the girls had fallen into the river.
Grant, meanwhile promptly had removed his sweater and taken off his sneakers preparing to go to the assistance of the unfortunate girls. As he was the strongest and swiftest swimmer, his companions by common consent had expected him to be the one to leap into the water.
A moment later it was seen that one of the girls had seized the canoe. In her desperation, however, the frail little craft was over-turned and she lost her hold and again disappeared from sight.
At that moment the motor-boat approached within twenty-five feet of the place where the accident had occurred. Shouting to his friends to take the canoe and do their utmost to rescue the unfortunate girl, Grant dived from the deck of the Black Growler and a moment later with powerful strokes was swiftly approaching the victims of the accident.
Meanwhile, following the instructions of Grant, John and George had been able with a boat-hook to reach the overturned canoe and drawing it speedily to them, both carefully and hastily took their places on board.
"Get one of the girls while I am getting the other," called Grant as he turned his head for a moment toward his companions.
At that instant Grant saw the face of one of the girls appear on the surface but a moment later it again disappeared from sight.
The current was moderately strong, and aware that when she again was seen it would be a little farther down the river, Grant slowly moved with the stream.
The depth of the water made it impossible for him to dive in an effort to find her in the depths. Carefully he scanned the water all about him and when in a brief time her face once more was seen and only a few feet farther down the stream, with two powerful strokes he darted forward and succeeded in seizing the girl by the hair of her head just as she began to sink once more.
Grant was elated when he discovered that the girl was still conscious. Holding to her hair with one hand he contrived to place himself behind her. Then holding her up by one hand with which he grasped her under the shoulder, he said hastily, "Don't move. Don't try to do anything for yourself. There, don't do that," he added as the frantic girl made an effort to seize him. "Don't touch me. Keep just as you are and you'll be all right."
In a measure his orders were obeyed. Instead of trying to swim toward the boat Grant was simply doing his utmost to keep himself and his companion afloat. He was treading water and moving with the current.
At the same time he looked all about him for help. He saw two of his friends in the canoe and was relieved when he discovered that John, who in his excitement had neglected to drop the boat-hook was holding the long implement toward the other girl who already had grasped it with both hands and was being drawn toward the boys.
"Come here and help me," shouted Grant. He was hoping that his two friends would be able to rescue the other girl, or at least prevent her from sinking, but he was well aware that if he and his companion were to be saved help soon must be had.
In response to his hail Fred turned the bow of the Black Growler and slowly approached the place where Grant was struggling.
The girl now was motionless and Grant's great anxiety was in a measure relieved. He had been fearful that she would try to seize him by the neck or arms and prevent him from doing anything to help either of them.
Grant was aware also that his strength would not permit him to continue the struggle much longer. Already he was breathing heavily and all his powers were required to keep himself and the nearly unconscious girl afloat. He had been able thus far to hold her head above the water, for fortunately at this time the river was unusually calm.
Again, almost in despair, he looked back at the motor-boat.
"Here!" called Fred, who had left the wheel and was standing in the bow holding a rope in his hand. "Catch this!" He had hastily tied a noose in the end and as he threw this toward the struggling boy, Grant fortunately grasped it.
By a supreme effort he managed to slip one arm through the noose and as soon as this had been done Fred instantly began to pull. Several times in spite of all the care Fred was exercising, the heads of Grant and his companion were drawn beneath the water. Still Grant managed to maintain his hold upon the girl and in a brief time they were drawn alongside the Black Growler.
"I can't pull you both up," called Fred in his excitement.
"No," gasped Grant. "I don't think you can pull either one of us."
While he was speaking he had contrived to slip the noose over the shoulders and under the arms of his companion. As soon as this had been done, he released his hold and said to Fred, "You can keep her head out of the water anyway. If your noose holds she's all right."
"What are you going to do?" demanded Fred.
"I'm all right," responded Grant as turning himself upon his back he floated with the current and obtained a brief rest.
Meanwhile John and George had drawn Miss Susie Stevens to the canoe and seized her by her hands. John had been seated in the stern but now he stretched himself upon the bottom of the little craft and reached over with his hands, one on each side of the canoe, and held the girl up so that she was able to breathe, although he did not attempt to draw her out of the water. "Take your paddle," he called to George. "I've got her all right, but make for the Black Growler. There's no knowing what will happen."
In this manner the canoe slowly was paddled toward the motor-boat, but Fred was holding the rope by which the second girl was held and consequently was unable to respond to the appeal of his friends to come to their aid.
Meanwhile the motor-boat was drifting with the current and there was grave danger that she might run aground on some one of the numerous islands.
Indeed this was just what occurred a few minutes later.
The keel of the boat now grated on the rocky bottom. Grant, who had been following the same course now obtained a precarious foothold and at once advanced to the aid of the helpless girl. He was still breathing heavily from his own exertions and his strength had not fully returned. Stumbling, slipping on the rocks, twice nearly falling into the river he managed to draw the girl up on the shore and as soon as he was satisfied that she was living he called to Fred, "Go on back and help the other fellows and I'll run up to this cottage and get some one to look after this girl."
"Give me a push, I'm almost grounded," called Fred frantically.
The engine had been reversed and the added help which Grant gave as he pushed hard against the bow sent the motor-boat back into the river. Satisfied that there was nothing more to be done Grant once more turned and as fast as he was able ran toward the cottage located fifty yards back from the shore.
In response to his appeal two women and a man at once ran toward the place where Grant had left the girl.
"Please look after her," said Grant hastily. "I want to go back to help the others. We had an accident," he explained.
The boy was rapidly recovering his breath by this time and as already he had seen a little skiff at the nearby dock, without asking permission or explaining what he was about to do he ran to the place, cast off and leaped on board. A few powerful strokes sent him out upon the river once more and in a brief time he was near the place where the canoe was drifting.
Cautiously approaching it, he soon was able to grasp Miss Susie Stevens under her arms and draw her on board the skiff.
By this time the motor-boat had approached the spot, but Grant called to Fred, "I'll take her right ashore where I took the other girl. Wait for me out here or at the dock."
"We'll help you," called George from the canoe.
"All right," answered Grant.
Nothing more was said while the skiff and the canoe were soon swiftly towed toward the dock.
Willing hands were there awaiting their coming, for the entire household now had been aroused and was watching the events on the river.
In a brief time Miss Susie was lifted to the dock. She was still able to stand and declared sturdily that she did not require any help. However, two of the women, one on each side, were helping her, and in a brief time she was assisted to the house and taken within the cottage.
"What shall we do now, fellows?" inquired Grant blankly as he turned to greet his companions.
"We had better wait," replied George, "and take them back home as soon as they are able to go."
"I guess that's good advice," responded Grant.
Shouting to Fred he bade him bring the Black Growler to the dock and make her fast there while they waited for the more complete restoration of the girls whom they had rescued.
The waiting of the boys continued longer than any of them had expected.
An hour passed and still no one appeared from the cottage.
"I wonder if there's anything wrong," said Fred as he glanced anxiously at the door.
"I guess not," answered George promptly. "The girls probably are exhausted, but I don't think there's anything serious. They came out of it a good deal better than I was afraid they would at first."
Following George's statement, the two girls were seen at that moment departing from the house. Accompanying them on their way to the dock were several members of the household who were doing their utmost to assist them.
Apparently, however, their services were neither required nor requested, for in a moment both girls moved quickly in advance of the little company and approached the dock.
Stepping quickly on board, Miss Susie said, "What did you do with my canoe?"
"We have got it here for you in tow. We thought you would probably want to take it with you and we're going to carry you home."
"That's very good of you," laughed the girl as she glanced back at her companion to make sure that she too had boarded the motor-boat.
"If you're all ready to go," suggested Fred, "we'll start right away. We have been waiting until you were ready."
"That's very good of you," again said the girl quickly. "I haven't thanked my life preservers yet for what they did. If you had not been there where you were the accident never would have happened," she added boldly.
For a moment the four Go Ahead boys stared blankly at the girl, who apparently had forgotten all their efforts to rescue her and her companion. Fortunately for the boys they had had other suits of clothing in the cabin of their boat so that all four now were clothed and dry. But to have all their heroism forgotten and to be blamed for being the cause of the accident was something which had not even remotely occurred to them.
"Yes," declared the girl, "if you had left us alone we wouldn't have tipped over."
"What was it we did?" demanded George.
"Why you came up with your old motor-boat and when I tried to be polite, Mildred thought she had to do the same thing, and then over we went."
"Well, that was the time when it was fortunate for you that we happened to be nearby," said John dryly.
"That's just what you had to do; you couldn't have helped yourselves."
In spite of the words of the animated girl, who apparently now had recovered her spirits and strength, it was plain to the boys that she was genuinely grateful for the rescue which they had made. She was a deeply interested spectator of the work of the boys in casting off and starting their swift boat and even insisted upon being permitted to steer part of the way.
"Have you joined the yacht club yet?" she inquired.
"What's that?" demanded George.
"Why the St. Lawrence Yacht Club. I am sure Fred's grandfather must belong and probably that will be enough of an introduction. We have some fine times there. Tennis all day, dances in the evenings and I don't know what all. You must be sure to come over there."
"You may be sure we'll come," spoke up George promptly. "Now I want to know," he added, "what our reward is to be for our heroic rescue of two forlorn maidens who were sinking in the cold waters of the St. Lawrence River."
"I think virtue will have to be its own reward in this case," laughed Mildred. "You ought to be satisfied with the honor you have won."
Fortunately the island which Mr. Stevens had rented was not far distant and not many minutes had elapsed before it was plainly seen by them all.
Before a landing was made, however, Miss Susie Stevens had suggested numerous plans for picnics, cruises among the islands, meetings for tennis at the yacht club and various other methods by which the days were to be passed.
As soon as their passengers departed, the Black Growler was headed swiftly for Chestnut Island, the name by which the place owned by Fred's grandfather was commonly called.
Upon their arrival they were informed that already Mr. Button had telephoned for Sam Hodge and that he had received word that the man would arrive the following morning.
"I hope he'll bring all his legs, and arms with him," suggested George with a laugh.
"What do you mean?" inquired Mr. Button.
"Why, he has a choice assortment," explained George. "It seems he used to work in a shop on Broome Street in New York City where they make legs and heads and arms for dummies."
"I don't understand yet," said Mr. Button blankly.
"Why, these wax figures that they have in the windows," explained Fred. "It was in a place where they make them that Sam Hodge worked and he made us all laugh when we took him on at Henderson Harbor. He was telling us about the boss throwing his leg at him and Sam told us he fired a foot back and before he had gone very far we had the air full of eyes, heads and legs and arms, feet and hands and everything else that goes to the making of a dummy. In fact I have almost come to believe that Sam is pretty well made up himself. When he comes down to-morrow I'm going to ask him to let me take out his eyes, take off his hair, pull out a foot and an arm, and when he gets through I'll see just how much there is of the real Sam anyway."
The boys laughed as Fred pictured the condition in which the loquacious Sam would be left.
Their interest, however, was still great in the exciting events through which they recently had passed. Mr. Button was an interested listener and when the story had been all told he said quietly, "Mr. Stevens has been down here several summers. I have been afraid of that girl every year. If she doesn't find herself in the bottom of the river some time soon, I don't believe the fault will be hers."
"Why, what's the matter with her?" inquired Fred.
"She's too much of a tomboy."
"What's that?" inquired Grant, winking at the other boys as he spoke.
"Why, she does most of the things that the boys do. She plays tennis, shoots a rifle, paddles a canoe and manages the Stevens family."
"And that is why you call her a tomboy?" inquired Fred.
"Yes, sir, it is," said the old gentleman solemnly. "Girls didn't act that way when I was young."
"How did they act?"
"Why, they were taught to be ladylike."
"And what is ladylike?" asked Fred.
"Why, it is to act like a lady."
"Yes," protested Fred, "but why shouldn't a lady do these things you're speaking of?"
"Because they are not ladylike," replied Mr. Button testily.
"But why aren't they?" persisted Fred. "I don't see."
"That's because you haven't learned any sense yet," said his grandfather, irritated at last by the failure of his grandson to agree to all that he had said.
Fred laughed goodnaturedly, for behind the manner of his grandfather he knew there was a heart that was big and generous. Mr. Button occasionally stormed about the "present generation" being so markedly different and deficient in all the good qualities that marked the young people of his own younger days.
"What about that bond?" inquired John. "Have you heard anything more about it?"
"Not a word," said Mr. Button sharply.
Before the old gentleman turned away, however, for Fred suspected that the subject was not a welcome topic of conversation, he said quickly, "Where's the man that wanted the bond?"
"How should I know?" retorted his grandfather.
"Has he been back here?"
"No, sir, he hasn't."
"Do you know where he is?"
"I'm not sure if I did that I should tell you."
"But you said he went to Syracuse."
"If I did that's probably where he went."
"Yes," said Fred, still persisting in asking questions, "but you don't say whether he is coming back or not."
"That's quite true."
"Is he coming?"
"I cannot tell you."
"Don't you know?"
"Did any one ever hear such a pestiferous child!" said Mr. Button, laughing as he spoke. "His questions and his tongue run like a mill-tail."
"What's a mill-tail?" inquired Fred.
"There he goes again!" said Mr. Button, holding up both hands in mock despair.
"But I want to know whether or not you have been up to Cape Vincent to do anything about that bond," demanded Fred.
"The bond isn't registered in my name anyway," answered Mr. Button. "Probably I couldn't get it if I wanted to."
"But you don't answer my question."
"Go into the house now and get ready for dinner. If you haven't any plans made for to-morrow I may ask you to take me up to Cape Vincent in the Black Growler."
"Of course we'll take you," said Fred. "We should like nothing better."
"Then it's understood that to-morrow we'll go to Cape Vincent."
"But, Grandfather," said Fred before he went upstairs, "Susie Stevens and Mildred think they will want to go with us to-morrow."
"And you told them they might?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, I don't see then but what you'll have to keep your promise, though you mark my words, young man, you'll be sorry you took that tomboy along with you. She'll get you into trouble just as sure as the sun rises. You mark my words."
Fred laughed and as he went to his room he had no thought how nearly his grandfather's words were to be fulfilled the following day.