ht," retorted Fred as his friends all laughed. "We'll
take the Growler out this morning and see how she behaves. That's what
Sam wants to do, I know. He can't tell how she runs until he sees her
in action. Besides, my grandfather wants to go up to Cape Vincent and
we promised to take those girls along."

"Better not," said Sam quickly. "I should think you had had experience
enough. Don't you know that every sailor says that it is bad luck to
bring a woman aboard ship?"

"The girls weren't on board. If they had been there wouldn't have been
any trouble," asserted Fred.

"Well, go up and get your breakfast," said Sam, "and by the time you're
ready, I guess we'll start."

The Black Growler stopped at the dock of the Stevens' and after waiting
a half-hour Miss Susie and her friend appeared and took their seats on
board the motor-boat.

Mr. Button was not enthusiastic in his morning salutations, evidently
sharing in Sam's superstition that ill luck might follow the reception
of their visitors.

Apparently the boys were not alarmed, however, and in a brief time the
Black Growler sped forward on her way, and the sounds of laughter that
came from her occupants were not indicative that trouble of any kind
was greatly feared.

"Grandfather," said Fred, "I would like to try the boat to-day over the
course or at least over part of the course that we'll have to run in
that race."

"Well, if you want to try it," broke in Sam, who was steering the boat,
"why don't you? There isn't anything to prevent you that I know."

"All right then, we will," said Fred. "We'll run up to Cape Vincent
first and on our way back we'll try out the course a little. Maybe
we'll try only one leg of it--"

"Only one what?" broke in Sam, abruptly looking back at the boys as he
spoke.

"Oh, it's not an albuminoid rib, Sam, it's just one leg of the course.
They don't have any artificial legs in such places."

"You never can tell what will happen," said Sam; "you'd better bring
one along."

"Why don't we try out the leg that we'll have to follow when we go up
the river anyway?" inquired John. "Part of the course will be up stream
and we might as well try that out now as any time."

"Is she in shape for trying it?" inquired Mr. Button of Sam.

"I haven't tried yet," said Sam cautiously.

"Then you never will know until you try," laughed Mr. Button. "When we
strike the beginning let her go for a little while anyway, and we'll
see how she wor