ma--Canal--is--is--quite long."

"So I have heard," laughed Grant. "I guess you buy the dinner."

"How long is it?" inquired John. "I knew, but I have forgotten."

"It's fifty and one-half miles long. Here comes Sam Hodge," Grant added
as the boatman came alongside the dock. "Are you going with us?" he
inquired as he quickly approached the dock.

"Where's that?" inquired Sam.

"Down the St. Lawrence River."

"How far?"

"Oh, down among the Thousand Islands, that's all."

"First I have heard of it," said Sam.

"I think it will be a good thing if you can go with the boys, Sam,"
spoke up Mr. Stevens. "They had a mishap yesterday and didn't quite
know what to do."

"Sure, I'll go," said Sam.

Fred made no protests and the terms with the mechanic were speedily
arranged.

A half-hour later the Black Growler set forth on her voyage.

The Caledonia was to follow some time that day and plans already had
been made by which the boys were to spend some time on Hecla Island, on
which was located the summer home of the Stevens.

Fortunately for Fred, at least, the lake continued to be calm. In the
eagerness of the boy to prove to his friends that he merely had a
"headache" the preceding day and had not been seasick, he was unusually
busy.

Sam called the attention of the Go Ahead boys to the post at Sacket's
Harbor. On a bluff above the lake the barracks and other buildings of
the place were plainly visible. Even the soldiers stationed there could
be plainly seen as they moved about the quarters.

"That's a great place to have an army post," said George. "I can't
think of any place better unless it's in the middle of the Sahara
Desert. Why did the government establish a post here?"

"Because there was a fort here, 'way back in the War of 1812," answered
Grant promptly. "Sacket's Harbor was the headquarters of the army of
the North and so the place has been kept up ever since."

"Do any of you want to stop?" inquired Fred, glancing at his companions
as he spoke.

"Not I," replied John quickly. "When we have a good sea like this and
Fred can be safe from the misery he suffered yesterday I'm not for
taking any chances of the wind coming up later."

"That's mighty kind of you," growled Fred. "I never knew you to be so
thoughtful of any one,--except yourself."

"Don't say that," said John. "You don't mean it. What you mean is that
this is the first time you ever have appreciated how good I am."

"Huh," began F