In a brief time the Black Growler was fast to one of the side-docks and the party prepared to disembark.
"I'm not going to leave that boat without somebody stayin' on board," asserted Sam positively, when he was aware that the Go Ahead boys were all planning to accompany him.
"What are you afraid of?" inquired George. "There's some one around here all the time and no one could do any damage without being seen."
"It doesn't make any difference," asserted Sam. "A man might drop sand into the bearings or grease cups or do some other mean trick and nobody ever see him."
"All right, then," laughed George, "I'll be the goat. I'll stay here while you're gone. I guess I shan't be lonesome," he added with a laugh as he glanced at the increasing assembly which already had been drawn to the dock to gaze at the beautiful little motor-boat.
Soon after the departure of his friends, George seated himself in the stern of the boat and did his utmost to appear indifferent to the admiring glances and words of approval which now were coming from the spectators.
He had secured a copy of the morning paper and was pretending to be interested in the news he was reading.
Suddenly he partly dropped the paper as in the crowd he discovered the canal-man, who had demanded their bond at Cape Vincent. For some reason which George was unable to understand he did not advance to the boat, preferring to remain on the outskirts of the little assembly. The fact, however, that the man was there was in itself somewhat startling.
Still pretending to be interested in his paper, George did his utmost to follow the actions of the man whom he had discovered, but not many minutes had elapsed before he departed from the dock.
When his friends returned the strange man had not come back.
"Did anything happen?" inquired Fred eagerly as he stepped on board.
"What did you think was going to happen?" answered George somewhat evasively.
"I didn't think anything was," laughed Fred. "Sam is the only one who is worried."
"Well, he has some right to be worried, I guess," said George slowly.
"Why, what's wrong? What happened?" demanded Fred excitedly.
"Are you ready to explain what you did with that bond that belongs to the Go Ahead boys?" asked George slowly.
"No, sir, I'm not."
"Then you'll not be interested in the fact that the man who wanted it came down here to the dock while you were gone."
"He did? He did?" exclaimed Fred so eagerly that his friends all laughed. "What did he want?"
"That, sir, I can't explain to you at this time," answered George, striving to mimic the tones and manner of his friend. "It's difficult for me to tell the whole story unless I know what you all have to say."
"I have nothing to say," retorted Fred.
"Neither have I," responded George glibly.
Meanwhile Sam had cast off and with his boat-hook had pushed the Black Growler out into the stream. The graceful lines of the motor-boat were more distinctly seen now and the enthusiasm of the spectators was somewhat noisily expressed.
At that moment, however, the Varmint II came sweeping in a great semi-circle toward the dock and the attention of the assembly was quickly divided.
The boys were able to overhear the comparisons which were made, some of them favorable to one boat and some to the other.
The Go Ahead boys, however, were so deeply interested in the sight of their rival that they gave slight heed to the comments. They were keenly watching the young men on board, but in a few minutes they were beyond the sight of the dock and the Varmint II consequently no longer could be seen.
"I tell you, Sam is right," said George positively. "Those fellows on that Varmint II are a hard crowd. If they have been betting as much money as Sam says they have, it may be that there's some reason for his being afraid that some accident may happen to the Black Growler."
"It wouldn't do any harm to keep pretty close watch anyway," suggested Grant. "Whatever the weather is I think it will be better to run her into the boat-house every night and put double locks on the doors."
"We'll do more than that," said Sam. "We'll have somebody on the lookout. I guess it wouldn't be very much of a job for you boys to divide the night up into watches. I'll stay on duty until eleven or twelve o'clock and from then on until six wouldn't take more than an hour and a half from each of you."
"We'll do that," said Fred quickly. "That's a good suggestion, Sam."
"But if we have the Black Growler fast inside the boat-house how can any one get at her?" inquired John.
"My dear String," said Grant solemnly, "I fear now that the remark of that wise Englishman was correct when he said that Nature never built men seven stories high without the top lofts being left empty."
"I have heard you say that before," retorted John, irritated by the manner more than by the words of his friend.
"Well, all I can say is," said Grant, "if you have any gray matter up there where your brain ought to be located you had better begin pretty soon to make it work. If a man wanted to break into the boat-house he wouldn't have very much trouble in doing it, no matter how many padlocks we put on the doors."
"That's right," spoke up George. "He could dive under the doors, or smash in the window or cut out a glass and if there wasn't any one on guard he might never be detected. No, sir, we've got to establish a guard and the fellow who is on duty must keep up a regular patrol. He must keep walking around the dock all the time."
"And there may be some other ways by which they will try to get at us besides injuring our boat," suggested Grant.
"I don't see what," spoke up John quickly. "It's the one boat they are afraid of and if they can only put the Black Growler out of business they won't have anything to fear, as far as the outcome of the race is concerned. What could they do anyway?"
"Oh, I don't know," said Grant. "I can think of a dozen tricks they might play, any one of which might throw us out of the race."
Grant's words proved to be more prophetic than he had dreamed. That very afternoon after the boys had taken their daily run over a part of the triangular course where the great race was to be held, an event occurred which confirmed his statement and added strength to Sam's warning.
The Black Growler already had finished her course and under low speed was moving with the current on her way back to the island where she belonged.
Suddenly and without any warning whistle, a swift little boat dashed out from behind one of the small islands which the Black Growler chanced to be passing at the time and almost before the boys were aware of what was occurring there was a collision.
"Look out! Look out there!" shouted Fred, who was steering, in his loudest tones. At the same time he did his utmost to change the course of the motor-boat. His words of warning, however, were either unheard or unheeded. There was a sharp collision, for the smaller boat was moving swiftly. This was followed by the sound of a grinding crash. In dismay the Go Ahead boys ran to the side of their boat and speedily discovered that the metal bow of the little boat before them had cut a long gash which extended below the water's edge. Indeed, it was only by an effort that the other boat was freed. To all appearances she was uninjured. On board were two men, plainly belonging to the region.
"What's the matter with you?" called one of the men on the other boat.
"What's the matter with YOU?" retorted Fred. "Why didn't you whistle before you turned the end of the island?"
"How were we to know anything was there if you didn't let us know? You, yourself, ought to have whistled."
The damage to the Black Growler, however, was not to be explained away by abuse or questions. Sam, already in the skiff, had brought it along-side and was inspecting the damage on the outside. As yet he had not made any suggestions and how serious the collision might prove to have been was not yet known.
Meanwhile the other boat hastily withdrew and when the Go Ahead boys again looked up to discover where it was, not one of them was able to find it.
"That's a great note!" exclaimed George in disgust. "They not merely ram us, but they don't wait nor even offer to help us."
"They didn't want to help," grumbled Sam. "The sooner they could get away from here, the better."
"What do you mean?" said Grant, abruptly turning to face Sam as he spoke.
"It seems to me," spoke up John, "that Nature doesn't have to make every fellow seven stories high to leave his topknot vacant. Sam thinks those fellows ran into us purposely."
For a moment the Go Ahead boys stared blankly at one another. The suggestion of John in the light of what had occurred after the accident might be true. The men in the other boat were strangers to the boys, not one of whom had ever seen either of them before.
The silent manner in which the sharp little boat had come around the island also was suspicious. With redoubled anxiety the boys turned to Sam to discover how serious was the damage which had been inflicted.
"How do you find it, Sam?" called Fred anxiously. "Are we out of the race?"
Sam shook his head as if he either was unwilling or unable as yet to reply.
Meanwhile the Black Growler had been drifting with the current, all power instantly having been shut off. Slight effort was required to keep her headed aright and Fred had remained at the wheel when Sam had begun his investigations.
Conversation now ceased while all four boys anxiously awaited the results of Sam's efforts to discover whether or not the Black Growler had suffered serious damage.
The only announcement which Sam vouchsafed after he had completed his hasty inspection of the damage which had been done was, "I guess she'll stand it all right as far as Alexandria Bay."
"Are you going to drift all the way, Sam?" inquired John.
"Drift? No! I'm going ahead. Seems to me I've heard some boys talk about 'goin' ahead,' and now 's the time to find out whether they mean business or not."
Relieved by the manner of Sam, although he had not made any positive statement, the four Go Ahead boys eagerly watched him as under slow headway he carefully guided the swift little boat toward its destination.
An hour afterward, they arrived at Alexandria Bay. There Sam insisted once more upon the boys remaining on board while he sought the help he desired in repairing the Black Growler.
While the boys were awaiting his return, their conversation naturally turned upon the mishap which had befallen them and their anxiety concerning the outcome of the accident.
"I'm telling you," said John, "that I haven't seen but one fellow on the Varmint II that was on board when I came up the Hudson with them."
"What has become of the others?" inquired Fred.
"I don't know. I haven't seen any of them. I remember that one particular fellow because he made me think when I saw him that there weren't many things he would hesitate to do if he wanted to win pretty badly."
"Do you really think," inquired George, "that this 'accident' up here was not an accident at all? Do you honestly believe that they ran into us on purpose?"
"I'm not charging nobody with nothin', as Sam says," laughed John, "but it's strange that boat didn't give any warning."
"They said that we didn't give any warning either," spoke up Grant. "Perhaps we were as much to blame as they were."
"Well, if that's the only thing that happens to us," said Fred, "I shan't complain, that is, if the Black Growler isn't put out of the race."
"You'll have a good excuse, Peewee," laughed George, "if you lose the cup."
"How's that?" inquired Fred.
"Why, you can charge it up to the collision."
"I'm not going to charge it to anything but the boat," retorted Fred sharply. "If the Black Growler doesn't win it isn't going to be the fault of any one but herself. There comes Sam with two men," he added, as the boatman was seen approaching, accompanied by two mechanics.
Another inspection of the damaged boat was made by the men whom Sam had brought, but their verdict coincided with his own. The Black Growler was marred, but no serious damage had been done.
"You're sure there isn't any leak, are you?" inquired Fred anxiously after the work was completed.
"Not a leak," laughed one of the men.
"All the same," spoke up Sam, "I'm going to leave the boat here and I'll be back for her to-night. Don't let any one come near her, and give her a thorough overhauling."
The men readily consented and soon departed, taking the Black Growler around the point to the spot where their boathouse was located.
The Go Ahead boys and Sam then took their places in the two skiffs which the Black Growler had had in tow and in a brief time arrived at the dock on the island owned by Mr. Button.
Fred's grandfather chanced to be in the boat-house when they arrived and in response to his inquiry concerning the motor-boat, Fred briefly related the story of the accident.
"Who was steering?" demanded Mr. Button sharply. "That's what comes of letting a lot of boys run such a delicate piece of work as that motor-boat. I told your father, Fred, that he ought not to get you any such plaything as that. I'll warrant that you were steering and not paying any attention."
Fred laughed as he said, "The fact is, Grandfather, that I was on the lookout but the other boat never whistled nor gave us any sign of their coming."
"Did you let them know that you were coming?"
"Why, no, we didn't whistle."
"Then I don't see that you have any one to blame but yourselves," said Mr. Button tartly. "It's just as I said."
"But we're not so sure that it was an accident," persisted Fred.
"No," laughed Mr. Button. "I suppose you think that other boat was hiding behind the rock ready to jump out at you the way a pickerel starts for a minnow."
"If that was the only thing," explained Fred, "we might agree with you. But the trouble is that we're afraid somebody wants to injure the Black Growler."
"Why?" demanded Mr. Button, turning abruptly upon the boys as he spoke.
"To put her out of the race."
For a moment Mr. Button stared blankly at his grandson and then said quietly, "Don't you believe it. We don't have that kind of people around here. I shall have to write your father that you were to blame."
"And I'll write him and tell him all about it," said Fred angrily.
"See that you do. See that you do," said his grandfather as he turned to the house and left the boys standing on the dock.
"All the same," spoke up George, "I'm sure that that collision wasn't any accident. What do you think, Grant?"
"I confess I don't know," replied Grant. "If it was the only thing that had happened I might think it was an accident, but taken in connection with some other things we have found out, I'm almost afraid it wasn't."
"Then the only thing for us to do," said John, "is to keep watch. Sam is going to bring the Black Growler back here to-night and some one of us will have to be on guard all the time."
"I have got that all fixed," said Fred, taking a slip of paper from his pocket as he spoke; "I have divided the night into five watches. We'll let Sam stay on guard until eleven o'clock. I'll take the watch from eleven P. M. to twelve-thirty A. M. Grant can come on at twelve-thirty and stay until two, then George will take his place and stay until half-past three. John will be the last one and he can be the guard from half-past three until five o 'clock. There won't be any need of any one after that because it will be light by that time."
"That's all right," spoke up George. "The only suggestion I have to make is that we rotate the hours, if we keep this up many nights."
"What do you mean?" inquired Fred.
"Why the one that comes on at eleven o'clock one night comes on at twelve-thirty the next night. The one who comes on at twelve-thirty will report at two and so on. We'll just keep pushing the schedule up every night so we'll all be the same when we're done."
"How shall we know when our turns come?" inquired John.
"Every fellow is to call the one who is to take his place."
"But suppose the villain comes between spells?"
"We'll have to take our chances on that," said John.
The proposed scheme was finally accepted. About six o'clock Sam returned with the Black Growler and when the plan was explained to him he readily consented to accept the part which had been assigned to him.
That night at eleven o 'clock he called Fred who was to have the first watch. After the first half-hour the young guard in the silence that rested over the great river found the time dragging heavily. In order to keep awake he walked about the dock, peering intently in every direction. Not a sign of danger had been discovered, however, when at half-past twelve he summoned Grant to take his place.
Grant also was not molested and when he called George at two o'clock he said sleepily, "It all seems like fool business anyway, Pop."
"You've been asleep," retorted George.
"I haven't closed my eyes," retorted Grant sharply. "If you do as well you'll be lucky."
A half-hour after George had entered upon his task he stopped and peered through the window into the boathouse. The light of the moon made many of the objects within clear and distinct. The Black Growler was lying peacefully in her slip. Apparently peril was nowhere threatening.
Suddenly, as George glanced at the farther end of the platform beside the slip, he stopped abruptly and stepped quickly back from the window. Approaching the place again, he cautiously peered within and his first impressions were confirmed. He was able to see distinctly the figure of a man crouching in a corner of the room.
Instantly George's heart was thumping wildly and he was tempted to shout to the intruder. Hastily banishing the impulse he watched the man. The dim outline of his figure was distinctly seen. Perhaps the intruder had been startled by the discovery of the face at the window. At all events he remained motionless and not a sound was heard save the lapping of the little waves against the dock.
By this time George's fears had returned in full force. He decided quickly to summon the Go Ahead boys and not attempt alone to drive away the intruder. That the man's purpose in coming was evil he had no question. What other explanation was to be had for the presence of a strange man in the boat-house at three o'clock in the morning?
Running silently and swiftly to the house, George speedily summoned his friends, who were wide awake as soon as the report of his discovery of the man in the boat-house was heard.
"Shall I take a gun?" whispered Fred to his companion.
"No," said Grant sharply. "We don't want any gun."
"Well, some of us ought to have clubs or something," persisted Fred.
"I don't think we shall want anything," said Grant, "but if you're afraid, bring along two or three bats."
These weapons were secured and then silently the four Go Ahead boys departed from the house and stealthily approached the boat-house in which George had discovered the presence of the intruder.
When the Go Ahead boys drew near the dock they separated, George and Grant moving to one side of the boat-house while John and Fred approached from the opposite side. There were two large doors in the front of the boat-house, both of which now were closed. The upper part of each, however, was of glass and was so made that the boys were able to stand on the dock and by leaning forward could peer into the building.
"He's there," whispered George excitedly, after he had looked within. Quickly withdrawing, Grant took his place and silently peered into the slip. At the same time John and Fred were making their investigations on the opposite side of the slip, although Fred was having his difficulties because he was not tall enough to enable him to look through the glass.
The man whom George had discovered apparently had not moved from the place in which he had first been seen. Perhaps he too was listening and was fearful of an attack.
Their excitement now greatly intensified, George beckoned for John and Fred to come to the place where he and Grant were standing on the dock.
"He's there," whispered Fred.
"I told you he was," whispered George in reply. "Now the question is how shall we get him?"
"How did he get in?" inquired Grant.
"I don't know," replied George, shaking his head. "There isn't any window open and the doors are locked."
"He must have dived under the door and come up that way," suggested John.
"This isn't any time to be discussing how he got there," remarked George. "The thing for us to do is to find out how we are going to get him out or get him. Let's go around to the window on the river side."
In response to the suggestion the boys stealthily crept along the dock and then one after another cautiously peered through the window. Not one of them stood in full view of the man within, for they were aware of the peril that might follow such an action.
"He's still there," whispered Fred, "and I don't believe he has moved once since we came back."
"He's scared," suggested John. "He doesn't know which way to turn."
The suggestion that the intruder might be alarmed was new to the Go Ahead boys and did much to revive their courage.
John and George each had secured a bat when they had left the house. And now they were prepared to defend the motor-boat and themselves also if the need arose.
"Knock on the window," suggested Grant. "Let the fellow know we're here."
"He may get away," warned George, who still was the most excited of all.
"If he tries to, we'll get him then anyway," said Grant. "Go around and look on the other side of the boat-house," he directed Fred and John. "We'll wait here. I'll rap on the window and we'll see what he does."
Grant waited until sufficient time had elapsed to enable his friends to take their position in front of the entrance on the opposite side and then rapped lightly upon the window. No response was made to his summons.
"He couldn't hear you," whispered George. "You'll have to make more noise than that."
Again Grant rapped upon the glass, pounding on the window sash also in his efforts to arouse the attention of the man within.
All four boys now were keenly excited and all were eager to discover what the intruder would do, now that his presence had been discovered.
To their surprise the man did not respond to the summons. Even his position was unchanged and in the dim light the boys were unable to decide whether or not he had even glanced in the direction from which the hail had come.
"There's only one thing we can do," said George.
"What's that?" demanded Grant.
"Go around to the other side and tell Fred we've got to have the door unlocked. Then we'll make a rush on the fellow before he knows that we are after him."
The suggestion was quickly followed and soon the four boys were standing together in front of the side-door which opened upon the dock.
"Now, then," said Fred, who insisted upon retaining his key, "when I unlock the door all four of us must make a rush together."
"That's right," whispered George as he grasped more tightly the bat which he was holding in his hand.
"Let String and George go ahead. They are the best armed," said Grant.
For some reason Grant was less excited than his companions, a fact which escaped the attention of the boys at that time.
"All ready!" whispered Fred. Quickly turning the key he opened the door and together the four boys darted into the boat-house.
Although the moon was shining, the interior of the room was somewhat darker than it had been on the dock. The boys, however, were able to see clearly the man who was still standing near the Black Growler. Not even when they rushed upon him did he turn his face toward them.
In their eagerness to secure him all four did their utmost to leap upon him at the same time.
A most amazing result, however, followed their desperate attempt. Despite his efforts to save himself, Fred, who pluckily was in advance, was pushed over the edge of the slip and with a loud splash fell into the river. Before he could check himself John followed his example. A yell came from Fred when he arose to the surface because at that moment the intruder, whom they had discovered in the boat-house, also followed the example set by the boys.
Meanwhile George and Grant had broken into loud laughter. George was bowed and slapping his sides as he moved about the room. Grant was laughing almost as loudly as his companion, although he did not move from the place where he was standing.
"Give us a hand," called Fred. "I can't see the ladder."
"It's right in front of you," suggested George, advancing to the edge and looking down into the water which was only about four feet below him. "There it is. Follow the sound of my voice."
"I don't see what there is so funny about all this," sputtered Fred as he climbed to the floor.
"Funny!" exclaimed Grant. "It beats anything I ever experienced."
"What's the trouble?" demanded John, who now also had climbed out of the water. His elongated form only partly clothed, his garments dripping and clinging to his slim body, increased the weirdness of his appearance.
"I think the joke's on George more than even it is on Peewee and String," laughed Grant.
At this moment Sam, who had been asleep in his room appeared, rubbing his eyes and gazing in surprise at the boys. "What's wrong?" he demanded gruffly.
"Nothing," said George, beginning to laugh again.
"It seems to me you make lots of fuss when nothin' is the matter. What are you all down here for anyway?"
"Why, George got us down here to help him get a man who was in the boat-house."
"Huh, what's that you say?"
"Why, George discovered somebody in the boat-house and he routed us all out to help him get him."
"Did you get him?" inquired Sam.
"We got all there was to get," laughed Grant.
"What do you mean?" demanded Sam, looking around the room and for the first time suspecting what had taken place.
"Why, we mean that you had that wax figure of yours down here and we all thought it was a man."
"I don't blame you," said Sam solemnly. "That's one of the best wax dummies I ever made."
"But why did you leave it where you did?" inquired George.
"Why, I figured it out this way," said Sam slowly. "If a scarecrow will keep crows out of a cornfield, why couldn't I rig up something to scare off anybody that wanted to damage the Black Growler?"
"That's good sense," said Grant soberly.
"Of course it is sense," declared Sam. "I put the dummy down there so that if anybody looked into the boat-house he would see it and he would think somebody was on guard."
"That's right," said Fred. "We had two dummies on guard to-night. One inside the boat-house and one outside."
"That may be all true," spoke up George, "but there was only one of them that followed you into the river."
"You would feel better if you had," declared Fred. "Now, then, I don't see that there's anything more for us to do except to go back to bed."
"But where's my dummy?" demanded Sam.
"That's right," said Fred. "We never fished it out of the river. I guess you'll find it all right, Sam, somewhere in the slip."
In a brief time Sam's possession was rescued from its place of peril, but the boatman's lamentations were the last words the boys heard when they departed.
"Color's all washed out. It doesn't look more than half human," Sam was declaring as he stood in the moonlight examining the dummy which he had fashioned after his arrival at the boat-house. "Sam has an extra assortment of legs and arms in his room," exclaimed Grant, as the boys entered the house. "He seems possessed to have them around him."
"Perhaps they will come in handy some day," laughed George.
"I don't know how."
On the following morning, however, when the Black Growler was withdrawn from the slip and once more was sent over a part of the course there was a goodly supply of Sam's legs and arms on board. Just why he had insisted upon taking them, he did not explain. So human were the pieces in their appearance that a stranger might have been startled when he first saw the heap.
As usual the Varmint II was speedily trailing the Black Growler. Indeed it was not long before the two boats were moving side by side, only a few feet intervening.
The Go Ahead boys had been singing a song which has long been famous on the St. Lawrence,
"Saw my leg off,Saw my leg off,Saw my leg off,Short!"
"That's what you'll have to do," called one of the men on board the Varmint II, "to lighten your load the day of the race."
"We won't wait until then," called back George. "We'll see if we can't lighten up a bit right now."
As soon as he had spoken, taking one of the artificial legs from the pile he flung it far behind the swiftly moving motor-boat.
Instantly the men on the Varmint II rushed to the stern of their boat and in astonishment were all looking at the leg which now could be seen floating on the surface of the river.
A loud laugh arose from the people on board the Varmint II when the floating leg was more clearly seen.
Indeed the last sound that came to the ears of the Go Ahead boys from their rivals when the boat no longer was seen was a mocking echo of their song,
"Saw my leg off--Short!"
A half-hour afterward the Go Ahead boys stopped at one of the largest islands and all four went ashore.
On their return to the dock they were followed by a very persistent Armenian who apparently was unshaken in his determination to sell certain articles he was peddling.
"I tell you," said Fred sharply, turning upon the dark-complexioned man, "we don't want any of your rugs or table cloths."
"Yees, kind sir, but just see these mooch fine han'ki'chiefs."
"But we don't want any," said Fred.
"But, my gud sir, they are ver' cheep."
By this time the boys had arrived at the landing and still the persistent peddler gave them no rest. He was calling his wares and insisting upon an inspection of them, ignoring the protests of the boys.
Finally in despair Fred reached beneath the seat and drew forth one of Sam's artificial legs. He waved it before the startled Armenian who gazed at it a moment in manifest fear and then uttering a loud scream ran back to his basket.
A laugh arose from the assembly on the dock who had been watching the experiences of the boys. The Armenian, however, did not delay and when the Black Growler departed, the boys were able to see the disappearing figure of their tormentor walking rapidly up the hill.
There he turned and looked back at the dock, but although the boat had departed, apparently his fears were only slightly relieved, for he soon disappeared.
"That's the best thing we've found in a long while," laughed George. "The way for us to get rid of all peddlers is to shake an arm or wave a leg at them."
"We may have to try again before long," suggested Fred. "This is the time when most of the peddlers come here."
Meanwhile the Black Growler was moving swiftly down the river. The talk of the excited boys soon turned toward the prospect of the race and somehow it was manifest that a measure of confidence had returned to Fred. So much had been said of late concerning the prowess of the Varmint II by the boys who delighted in teasing their friend, that Fred had arrived at a stage of mind when it was difficult for him to distinguish between the words that were spoken in bantering and in earnest.
"I'll tell you what I'm going to do," said George as the swift little boat came within sight of Alexandria Bay.
"What are you going to do?" inquired John.
"I'm going to take my right arm out of my coat and tie it behind me. Then I'm going to put one of Sam's artificial arms in the sleeve and find somebody to shake hands with me. He'll shake so hard that I'm half afraid my arm will come off."
"That's all right," laughed his companions as they assisted George to carry out his plan.
When the motor-boat stopped at the dock the artificial arm had been placed in the coat sleeve and George was assisted to the dock.
There George discovered one of the men who had helped in repairing the Black Growler.
"Hello!" called the mechanic, discovering the boys and at once approaching.
"Hello, to you!" called back George. "It's been a long time since I have seen you. I shan't forget you for I have three or four good reasons."
"I hope you won't," laughed the mechanic, "but I should like to know what your reasons are."
"One reason," said George seriously, "was that you never shook hands with me in the morning when you came to work."
"I didn't know you wanted me to," said the man. "I'll make up for lost time now." As he spoke he grasped the hand which extended from George's right sleeve and as George at that same moment turned quickly away, the astonished handshaker stood holding in his grasp an arm which had apparently come from the sleeve of the boy.
"That's right," said George soberly, pretending to be much grieved. "That's right. First you don't shake hands and then you shake hands so hard that you take my arm right off."
The sight had quickly drawn many of the people who were loitering about the dock and for a moment they were startled to see what had been apparently a serious accident.
"It's nothing," said George, turning to the assembly. "This man shook hands with me and the first thing I know he had shaken my arm off. He's welcome to it, however, and I hope it will do him some good."
The crowd was laughing noisily by this time and when George turned back to resume his place on board the motor-boat, the mechanic was the center of an observing throng which was inspecting the arm that he still was holding.
Upon the return of the boys to the island, they discovered that Fred's grandfather was seated upon the piazza conversing with a man whose form impressed the Go Ahead boys as being familiar.
When they drew near the house John exclaimed in a low voice, "That's our friend that we saw on the canal-boat."
His startled companions again glanced hastily at the man and Grant said, "You're right for once in your life, String. That's just who it is."
"What is he doing here?" demanded John.
"I can't tell you," said Fred.
"Was he expected this morning?"
"Not to my knowledge."
When the boys went up the steps, however, Mr. Button summoned all four to come to the place where he was seated.
Somewhat startled by the invitation the boys approached, all glancing in some confusion at the man seated near Mr. Button. He was dressed in a different suit now and many of his ways and manners had been changed for the better. He was now at his ease and the twinkle that appeared in his eyes was far different from the expression which the boys had seen there in their earlier experiences with the man.
"You appear to be acquainted with this man," suggested Mr. Button dryly.
"We have seen him before," said George.
"And not exactly where you wanted to see him, I fancy," laughed Mr. Button. "Do you know who he is?"
"No, sir," said George quickly, "and we don't know what he is either."
"Well, this is Mr. Brown from Syracuse," explained Mr. Button. "A gang of bank robbers got into one of the vaults there some time ago and got away with a large number of bonds. Mr. Brown was detailed to find and catch the thieves if possible."
As Mr. Button ceased speaking the interest and excitement of the boys at once increased.
They looked eagerly at one another and at Mr. Brown, who now assumed an importance in their eyes, which before he had not had, even when they believed him to be a false claimant to the bond which they had found on board the Black Growler.
"Are you a detective?" inquired John, turning to Mr. Brown as he spoke.
"I don't speak of myself in that way," replied Mr. Brown, "and yet--"
"That's what he is," interrupted Mr. Button "He already has run down and found most of the bonds."
"How did that one come to be on our boat?" inquired Grant.
"Why, I had it in my pocket," laughed Mr. Brown, "and I put it under the cushion for safe keeping. You see, I joined that crowd and they thought I was one of the canal-men. I was with them for ten days at least and finally I found out what I wanted to know."
"Were they the bank thieves?" asked George eagerly.
"Some of them," replied Mr. Brown. "They were strangely mixed up. In fact that is one of the tricks they have, I am told. When a bank is broken into if the men are successful they scatter so that no two are in the same locality. It took me a long time to get in with these men but I finally succeeded. Indeed the care of some of the stolen bonds was left to me. They were not very easily converted into cash by any of them and as they all believed I was really a yeggman they finally let me into their secrets."
"Where are they now?" asked Fred.
"Some of them are missing but two have been taken into custody. I have forwarded the bond, which you boys unconsciously were carrying on the Black Growler, to the bank to be restored to its proper owners."
After the boys went to their rooms they were still discussing the story of the lost bond.
The fact that one of the gang, which had forced its way on board the boat while they were passing through the Erie Canal, had turned out to be a detective, was sufficient to arouse the keenest interest among the Go Ahead boys. Indeed, in the afternoon they insisted upon Mr. Brown accompanying them once more while they made another test of the racing motor-boat on the course.
Mr. Brown, upon the insistence of the Go Ahead boys, related many of the stirring experiences which he had had as a detective and when he departed, after they had returned to the island, they were all delighted with the changed man. How he had been able to pass himself among the professional bank thieves as one of their number was an increasing marvel to all four.
It was still agreed that the boat-house must be guarded every night. The various watches were continued, for the fear of the boys that some evil might befall their boat was still with them.
Mr. Button laughed good-naturedly at their precautions, declaring that a thief was almost unknown in the entire region. However, he offered no objections and the boys arranged their vigils as on the preceding nights.
No evil had befallen the racing motor-boat, however when morning came.
The race now was only two days distant. Only one night therefore intervened and the irksome task of guarding the boat-house would only have to be performed once more. The vigil of the Go Ahead boys, however, was not rewarded by detecting the presence of any one with plots against the Black Growler.
The day of the race dawned clear and fair. The excitement among the boys had now become intense. Everything had been done for the swift little racer that had been in the power of the boys.
Her sides were glistening and her machinery oiled and polished and when at last she was declared by Sam to be ready for the supreme trial, all the Go Ahead boys were agreed that never before had their boat been more capable of making her highest speed than at the present time.