e had moved closer to the line and the excitement
on her deck was keener than that on any other boat in the assembly. If
Fred's attention had not been so strongly centered upon his task he
might have seen his grandfather running back and forth near the rail,
his hat in one hand and his cane held midway in the other, shouting in
his loudest tones to his grandson to "put on more power and win that
race."

Miss Susie already had lost much of her ability to shout. Her voice
rose scarcely above a whisper.

Of all these things, however, the Go Ahead boys were ignorant when the
two boats swept across the line.

Even those who were on board were not able to say positively which had
won the cup.

"That is the worst finish I have ever seen in a race," said Fred to his
friends when the Black Growler in a wide semi-circle turned from the
course.

"I think it will be for the judges to say anyway," said George as he
wrung the water out of his dripping sweater.

"I fancy they will be the ones who will pick the winner," laughed
Grant. "I hope they'll not call it a draw and that we shall have to try
it all over again."

"I shan't mind very much if they do," said John.

"There's a call from the judges!" interrupted Fred, who had seldom
looked away from the judges' boat, which now they were again
approaching.

Suddenly a great hush fell over the assembly. Every one anxiously
looked toward the boat of the judges, striving to hear the announcement
which was about to be made through the megaphone.

"Hold me!" said Fred. "If the Varmint II wins I think I shall need
somebody to brace me up."

At that moment, however, the voice of the judge was heard and when he
announced that by a margin of only six inches the Black Growler had won
the cup, a shout went up from the crew of the little racing motor-boat
that was heard above the din that followed the award.

"That's worth while, Peewee!" declared George as he pounded his
diminutive friend upon his back.

"That's what it is!" joined in the other boys.

Meanwhile the victorious motor-boat had drawn alongside the Caledonia
and as Fred looked up to the enthusiastic people on the deck the only
voice to which he was listening was that of his grandfather.

"That was fine, young man!" shouted the old gentleman. "If you hadn't
won that race I think I should have cut you off in my will. I have got
a reward here for Sam, too, and you tell him not to leave before he has
seen me."

Sam