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