ight they
wore veils and protected themselves."

"And afterwards," said the girl, "they died of consumption. Now,
honestly, Mr. Button, didn't some of these girls that you're speaking
about die when they were young?"

"Death is no respector of persons. He cuts down the young as well as
the old."

"Do you mean that for an answer to my question?"

The conversation which was becoming slightly heated abruptly ceased
when George excitedly called the attention of his companions to a man
standing on the dock in Cape Vincent which they were rapidly
approaching.

"There's your bond man," he said in a low voice.

Instantly the eyes of all were turned toward the individual to whom
George had referred. One look was sufficient to convince all the Go
Ahead boys that George had spoken truly, and that the man before them
was indeed the one who had demanded that the bond which the boys had
discovered on board should be given to him.

CHAPTER XIX

THE LOST FISH

"You come with me, Freddie," said Mr. Button. Fred's face flushed at
the term applied to him by his grandfather and still deeper color
appeared in his cheeks when he saw a mischievous expression appear in
the eyes of the girls. To be called by the name be which he was called
when he was a little fellow, or at least very much smaller than he was
at the present time, was the last thing that could be applied him in
the way of teasing. Mr. Button, however, had no thought of annoying his
grandson and used the term simply because it had been familiar to him
from the time when Fred was born.

"Good-by, Freddie, good-by," called the three Go Ahead boys together,
as their comrade obediently followed the call and at once joined his
grandfather and the man who had demanded the bond and turned into the
street.

"That fellow was waiting for us," exclaimed George in surprise. "I
believe that Mr. Button knew all the time that he was to be here."

"Well, what do you make of it?" inquired Grant.

"I don't know what to make of it. That man and a lot of his friends
from the canal-boats force their way on board the Black Growler and
leave only when they are scared by the coming of the Caledonia. Then
the first thing we know he shows up here at Cape Vincent and orders us
to give up a bond which he says we have."

"And the worst of it is that we have it," said George ruefully.

"HAD it, you mean," suggested Grant soberly.

"That's right," joined in John. "We gave it up and ha