when they were seen together.

Grant was the one member of the Go Ahead boys who easily led in
whatever he attempted. His standing in school was high and his time in
the hundred yards dash stood now as a school record. His fund of
general information was so large that some years before, in a joke he
had been dubbed Socrates. That expressive name, however, had recently
been shortened to Soc.

George Washington Sanders, one of the most popular boys in his school,
frequently was referred to as Pop, by which designation his friends
indirectly expressed their admiration for one who, even if he bore the
name of the Father of his Country, was laughingly referred to as the
Papa of the Land. This nickname in the course of time had been
shortened to Pop.

Already the four Go Ahead boys had had several stirring experiences in
their summer vacations. One of these had been spent at Mackinac Island
where their adventures had been chiefly concerned with Smugglers'
Island. Together they had made a voyage to the West Indies where their
experiences on a desert island have been already recorded.[1] Together
they had investigated the mysteries connected with an old house near
George's country home, a place shunned by the country folk because of
its reputation of being haunted.[2] Another delightful summer had been
spent by the boys in a camp in the Canadian woods.[3] All these
experiences had only prepared the way for the days which now were
confronting them.

Every one was confident that the Black Growler would give a good
account of herself in the motor-boat races which were to be held on the
St. Lawrence River. The grandfather of Fred Button, who was the
fortunate owner of an island in the majestic river, had invited the
boys to spend a month with him in his cottage. Incidentally he had
explained that their visit would be at the time when the boat races
occurred, which he had no question they all would greatly enjoy. He was
unaware that Mr. Button had already purchased a motor-boat of marvelous
speed, although at the time he had no thought that it would be entered
in any contest or races.

Yielding to Fred's persuasions at last his father had somewhat
reluctantly given his consent for the boat to be entered, as well as
for Fred to invite the other three Go Ahead boys to spend the coming
weeks together on the island.

All these thoughts were more or less in the minds of the Go Ahead boys
when the Black Growler swiftly started on