t with one of the hands he manufactured?"

"No. No," said Sam. "He hit me in my real eye with his real hand."

"And that was why you picked up one of your legs and he took one of the
girl's feet and he hit you in the real eye, no, I mean the artificial
eye with his real hand,--that's not quite it. I mean he hit you in the
hand with his artificial eye. No, that isn't it either. Hold on. He
threw one of his legs at you and then he took his eye and threw it at
one of the girl's feet. Hold on, I'm getting all mixed up. I can't tell
just where I am at. Say it again, Sam."

"I think it's better for a man to have a wooden leg than it is to have
a wooden head," spoke up Fred.

"Splendid, Peewee! Fine!" laughed George. "That's immense! Great! Sam,"
he added soberly as he turned to the mechanic who was now steering the
Black Growler, "did you say you made artificial legs and arms and feet?"

"That's what I said," acknowledged Sam.

"Did you ever manufacture artificial heads?"

"Lots of 'em. Lots of 'em."

"Have you got any with you?"

"No, I haven't."

"I'm sorry," said George. "There are several reasons why I should like
to buy one."

Meanwhile the Black Growler swiftly and greatly to the delight of Sam
was speeding over the smooth waters. Scarcely a ripple was to be seen.
The reflection of the sunlight increased the discomfort of the Go Ahead
boys and all four were rejoiced when at last Cape Vincent was sighted
in the distance.

CHAPTER XII

A SURPRISE

"Wait a minute, fellows!" called Fred when his companions prepared to
depart from the dock and go to the hotel for their luncheon. "I have
lost my knife. I think I must have dropped it somewhere behind the
cushions."

The boys halted on the dock while Fred speedily turned over the
cushions. He did not discover his missing knife, but he did find a
large envelope lying directly beneath the cushion in the stern of the
cockpit.

"What's that?" he called as he held the paper up to view. "Have any of
you fellows lost anything?"

All three Go Ahead boys declared that the paper did not belong to any
of them. Approaching the place where Fred was standing on board and
still looking at the document Grant suggested that he should open the
envelope as it was unsealed and unaddressed.

Fred followed the suggestion and to the amazement as well as to the
consternation of his friends he drew forth a bond for five thousand
dollars. For a moment an expression of blank