aughed one of the men.

"All the same," spoke up Sam, "I'm going to leave the boat here and
I'll be back for her to-night. Don't let any one come near her, and
give her a thorough overhauling."

The men readily consented and soon departed, taking the Black Growler
around the point to the spot where their boathouse was located.

The Go Ahead boys and Sam then took their places in the two skiffs
which the Black Growler had had in tow and in a brief time arrived at
the dock on the island owned by Mr. Button.

Fred's grandfather chanced to be in the boat-house when they arrived
and in response to his inquiry concerning the motor-boat, Fred briefly
related the story of the accident.

"Who was steering?" demanded Mr. Button sharply. "That's what comes of
letting a lot of boys run such a delicate piece of work as that
motor-boat. I told your father, Fred, that he ought not to get you any
such plaything as that. I'll warrant that you were steering and not
paying any attention."

Fred laughed as he said, "The fact is, Grandfather, that I was on the
lookout but the other boat never whistled nor gave us any sign of their
coming."

"Did you let them know that you were coming?"

"Why, no, we didn't whistle."

"Then I don't see that you have any one to blame but yourselves," said
Mr. Button tartly. "It's just as I said."

"But we're not so sure that it was an accident," persisted Fred.

"No," laughed Mr. Button. "I suppose you think that other boat was
hiding behind the rock ready to jump out at you the way a pickerel
starts for a minnow."

"If that was the only thing," explained Fred, "we might agree with you.
But the trouble is that we're afraid somebody wants to injure the Black
Growler."

"Why?" demanded Mr. Button, turning abruptly upon the boys as he spoke.

"To put her out of the race."

For a moment Mr. Button stared blankly at his grandson and then said
quietly, "Don't you believe it. We don't have that kind of people
around here. I shall have to write your father that you were to blame."

"And I'll write him and tell him all about it," said Fred angrily.

"See that you do. See that you do," said his grandfather as he turned
to the house and left the boys standing on the dock.

"All the same," spoke up George, "I'm sure that that collision wasn't
any accident. What do you think, Grant?"

"I confess I don't know," replied Grant. "If it was the only thing that
had happened I might think it was an accide