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," l