ys, there was some one in the
boat-house. I was sure of it though I couldn't see any one. I heard him
moving around and when I came out on the dock there I saw him just as
plain as day. Just about that time he saw me too, and that was the
first I knew that there were two of them, one in the skiff and one on
the dock."

"Were they near the Black Growler?" inquired Fred, who was keenly
aroused by the story Sam was telling.

"They couldn't have been nearer," declared Sam, "but when they saw me,
they started out as if the evil one was after them."

"I don't wonder," suggested George.

"Huh?" said Sam quickly. "What's that you say?"

"I think it would scare anybody if he thought you were trying to catch
him," said George glibly.

Mollified by the explanation, Sam continued, "They lighted out as soon
as they both were in the skiff and the way they rowed was something
marvelous. I chased them around the point, but if you'll believe me
when I got there they were already more than half-way to Alexandria
Bay."

"They must have traveled fast," laughed John.

"They didn't delay any, let me tell you," said Sam, shaking his head.
"And they had good reason to hurry up."

"Was anything wrong with the boat?" asked Fred.

"I haven't found out yet. I don't think they had time to do much harm."

"What makes you think they wanted to harm the boat anyway?" asked Grant.

"Huh," said Sam, turning abruptly upon the speaker. "What else could
they want here?"

"I don't know that they would want anything," said Grant quietly. "When
you have made up your mind that somebody is trying to put the Black
Growler out of business it is easy for you to believe that everything
is working for that one thing."

"You don't know as much as you might," said Sam tartly.

"By which you mean?" inquired Grant.

"By which I mean just this," responded Sam warmly. "The people that own
the Varmint II are a tough crowd. They are some young fellows that have
got more money than they have sense."

"More dollars than cents, you mean, don't you?" interrupted George.

"That's what I said," retorted Sam. "They are betting all sorts of
money on their boat. From what I heard over at the Bay they have staked
more money than you would believe on their boat winning the race."

"Who told you about it?" inquired Fred.

"Never you mind that," said Sam. "I know and that's enough. Now, if
they've got so much staked they wouldn't feel so very bad, would they,
if