THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND THE RACING MOTOR-BOAT

BY ROSS KAY

Author of ``Dodging the North Sea Mines," "With Joffre on the
Battle Line," "Fighting in France," "The Go Ahead Boys on
Smugglers' Island," "The Go Ahead Boys and the Treasure Cave,"
etc. etc.

Preface

Every normal boy loves a motor-boat, but words fail to express
his enthusiasm when that boat is also a racer. Behind the events
recorded in this story are certain facts, so that the tale is
largely true. The author will be glad if the account of life in
the open, the adventures and fortunes, good or ill, the contests
and exciting experiences interest his readers even partly as much
as they did the boys who shared in the actual occurrences. I have
tried to write a story filled with action, but devoid of
sensationalism and false representations. If my boy friends enjoy
the company of the Go Ahead boys I shall feel repaid for my labor.

Ross Kay

CONTENTS                                                        
I       THE START  
II      ON THE WAY   
III     JOHN DISAPPEARS  
IV      THE LOST IS FOUND  
V       THE MISSING BAG 
VI      IN THE TAVERN  
VII     AN UNWELCOME PARTY  
VIII    THE COMING OF THE CALEDONIA  
IX      A FRIEND IN NEED  
X       IN TROUBLE  
XI      RESCUED 
XII     A BATTLE WITH ARMS AND LEGS  
XIII    A SURPRISE   
XIV     A SURPRISING PASSENGER  
XV      AN UPSET  
XVI     THE RESCUE   
XVII    SENDING FOR SAM 
XVIII   A TEST   
XIX     THE LOST FISH  
XX      SAM'S WARNING  
XXI     THE SUMMONS IN THE NIGHT  
XXII    A COLLISION  
XXIII   THE CALL IN THE NIGHT 
XXIV    THE MAN IN THE BOAT-HOUSE  
XXV     THE OWNER OF THE BOND  
XXVI    CONCLUSION  

THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND THE RACING MOTOR-BOAT

CHAPTER I

THE START

"Here we go!"

"We're off!"

"Look quick, or we'll be out of your sight."

The long, low motor-boat glided smoothly out from the dock to
which it had been made fast. Behind it the water boiled as if it
had been stirred by some invisible furnace. The graceful lines of
the boat, its manifest power and speed, formed a fitting
complement to the bright sunshine and clear air which rested over
the waters of the Hudson River.

On the dock, which the Black Growler was leaving so rapidly
behind her, were assembled various members of the families
represented by the four boys on board the motor-boat. Younger
brothers and sisters, two uncles, several aunts, not to mention
the various fathers and mothers united in a final word of
farewell. Handkerchiefs were waved and the sounds of the last
faint call came across the intervening waters.

The Black Growler was leaving Yonkers to be gone more than a
month. The trip was one to which the Go Ahead boys had looked
forward with steadily increasing interest.

In the first place the boat belonged to Fred Button, one of the
quartet. Fred now was at the wheel and the expression of pride on
his face as he occasionally glanced behind him at his companions
was one that indicated something of the feeling in his heart. And
indeed there was a substantial basis for Fred's pride. Among the
many boats on the river the Black Growler moved as if she
belonged in a class of her own. People on board the cat boats or
yachts, and even the passengers on a great passing steamer, all
stood looking with manifest interest at the dark-colored little
boat which was speeding over the waters almost like a thing
alive.

Fred Button, the owner and present pilot of the swift motor-boat
was the smallest, or at least the shortest, of the four boys. His
age was the same as that of his companions, all of whom were
about seventeen. His round body and rounder face were evidences
that in time what Fred lacked in length he might provide in
breadth. Among his companions he was a great favorite and
frequently was called by one of the several nicknames which his
comrades had bestowed upon him. Peewee or Pygmy, the latter
sometimes shortened to Pyg, were names to which he answered
almost as readily as to his Christian name.

His most intimate friend of the four was John Clemens, whose
nickname, "String," indicated what his physique was. He was six
feet three inches in height, although his weight was not much
more than that of the more diminutive Fred. "The long and the
short of it" the two boys sometimes were called 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.

[1] See "The Go Ahead Boys and The Treasure Cave."

[2] "The Go Ahead Boys and the Mysterious Old House."

[3] See "The Go Ahead Boys and the Island Camp."

 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 her long voyage.

"Are you going to keep her going like this all the time?"
demanded John as the swift little boat steadily continued on her
way.

"She doesn't like to slow up," replied Fred glancing behind him
as he spoke.

"She had better slow up than blow up," retorted John.

"No danger of that," laughed Fred. "The first thing you know
we'll be in the canal." 

"I hope not," laughed Grant. "It will be a great day when the Go
Ahead boys learn how to use the English language. You don't mean
'in' the canal, you mean 'on' the canal."

"Perhaps he means what my grandfather used to call the 'ragin'
canawl'," suggested Grant.

"Maybe we'll be both IN it and ON it," laughed Fred. "If we
should happen to strike a rock or bump into another boat it
wouldn't be very hard to understand what would follow."

"That makes me think," said Grant solemnly. "Are you sure that
you know how to steer? If we were traveling on the Erie Canal as
they used to go soon after it was opened--"

"When was that?" broke in George.

"1825. The Erie Canal extended from Albany to Lake Erie and was
constructed chiefly because DeWitt Clinton worked for it with
might and main from 1817 to 1825."