n we came here last evening," said George when
the Go Ahead boys looked behind them after their departure.

"I think I will send that landlady a Christmas present of a cake of
soap," said Grant soberly.

"She wouldn't know what it was for," laughed John, "if you did."

"My, I would like to hear what my mother would say if she could see the
inside of that old tavern."

"The worst thing of all," said Fred, "was the riot in the bar-room. I
didn't sleep a wink last night."

"You didn't sound that way, Freddie," said George.

"What time did the noise downstairs stop, Peewee?" inquired John.

"It didn't stop, I guess," laughed Fred. "The landlady said the storm
drove all the canal-men into the house, but it didn't seem to me there
was anything that drove them out. I shouldn't like to meet one of those
men in a dark alley."

"You don't have to meet them," suggested George. "We have lived through
the night somehow and are all safe. Now if the Black Growler is ready
we are. We'll get our breakfast at Rome, I suppose."

"That's what we will," said Fred, quickening his pace as he spoke.

"Look yonder!" exclaimed John, abruptly halting as he spoke and
pointing in surprise at their motor-boat, which was only a few yards
distant.

In response to his suggestion the Go Ahead boys all stopped and stared
in amazement at the sight before them.

On board the Black Growler were at least a half-dozen men and it
required no explanation to enable the boys to understand that they were
a part of the noisy assembly which had made night hideous in the hotel.

"Here," called Fred, running ahead of his companions. "What are you
doing in that boat?"

"Who are you?" demanded one of the occupants, turning and facing Fred
as he spoke.

"That's my boat," declared Fred.

"You don't say so!" replied the man in shrill tones, at which his
companions laughed loudly.

For a moment Fred stopped and stared blankly at the men, who had
apparently made themselves fully at home on board his motor-boat. The
awnings had been taken in and the self-invited guests had been
examining various parts of the fleet little craft.

"Did you ever hear," continued the spokesman, "that possession is nine
points of the law and that the tenth isn't worth fighting about? Maybe
we'll ask you to prove that this boat is yours. According to the
records of my private secretary this here yacht is mine. I'm goin' on a
cruise up to Buffalo and I have invited a few o' my