"What's the matter with YOU?" retorted Fred. "Why didn't you whistle
before you turned the end of the island?"

"How were we to know anything was there if you didn't let us know? You,
yourself, ought to have whistled."

The damage to the Black Growler, however, was not to be explained away
by abuse or questions. Sam, already in the skiff, had brought it
along-side and was inspecting the damage on the outside. As yet he had
not made any suggestions and how serious the collision might prove to
have been was not yet known.

Meanwhile the other boat hastily withdrew and when the Go Ahead boys
again looked up to discover where it was, not one of them was able to
find it.

"That's a great note!" exclaimed George in disgust. "They not merely
ram us, but they don't wait nor even offer to help us."

"They didn't want to help," grumbled Sam. "The sooner they could get
away from here, the better."

"What do you mean?" said Grant, abruptly turning to face Sam as he
spoke.

"It seems to me," spoke up John, "that Nature doesn't have to make
every fellow seven stories high to leave his topknot vacant. Sam thinks
those fellows ran into us purposely."

For a moment the Go Ahead boys stared blankly at one another. The
suggestion of John in the light of what had occurred after the accident
might be true. The men in the other boat were strangers to the boys,
not one of whom had ever seen either of them before.

The silent manner in which the sharp little boat had come around the
island also was suspicious. With redoubled anxiety the boys turned to
Sam to discover how serious was the damage which had been inflicted.

"How do you find it, Sam?" called Fred anxiously. "Are we out of the
race?"

Sam shook his head as if he either was unwilling or unable as yet to
reply.

Meanwhile the Black Growler had been drifting with the current, all
power instantly having been shut off. Slight effort was required to
keep her headed aright and Fred had remained at the wheel when Sam had
begun his investigations.

Conversation now ceased while all four boys anxiously awaited the
results of Sam's efforts to discover whether or not the Black Growler
had suffered serious damage.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE CALL IN THE NIGHT

The only announcement which Sam vouchsafed after he had completed his
hasty inspection of the damage which had been done was, "I guess she'll
stand it all right as far as Alexandria Bay."

"Are you going to drift all