Part 5 (1/2)

”Fine! Fine,” laughed John, ”My story isn't growing like that though let me tell you. This story is true. It's a complete narrative of truthful John. I was about to turn back and make inquiries when I could get an express train for Albany, when what should I see coming up to the dock but the Varmint II. As soon as the people on board saw me they immediately began to urge me to come with them. They had seen the Growler just pulling out and leaving me in my unfortunate plight.”

”I guess they suspected what you had in the basket,” laughed Fred.

”That may be,” acknowledged John. ”At all events it saved them buying a good spread, for they took me on board right away and we trailed you all the way up the Hudson. I tell you, Peewee, it's a comfort to ride in a good boat. That Varmint II can travel! Oh, I don't know how many knots an hour!”

”Can she beat the Black Growler?” inquired Fred anxiously.

”Beat her! Beat her!” retorted John. ”Why you would think the Black Growler was standing still the Varmint can pull away from her so fast.”

”I don't believe that,” said Fred, shaking his head.

”Well, you will have to, for they are going to the same place we are.

They have entered her in the motor-boat races and as she belongs to the same cla.s.s that your tub does you will have a fine chance to see her win the cup. That's about the only chance you'll have too, in my opinion.” John winked at George and Grant, who immediately in doleful tones expressed their sympathy for Fred.

”It's too bad,” declared George, ”after a fellow's father has given him a boat such as the Black Growler to find out that it doesn't stand any show in the race. Now if you had found that out before you had bought the boat, Fred, just think how much money, time, labor, trouble, perplexity, sleeplessness, loss of appet.i.te--”

”Never that,” broke in Grant, shaking his head. ”All the other things, yes, but loss of appet.i.te, never. Just look at him!”

John insisted upon relating his experiences and increased the interest of his friends in spite of their efforts to appear indifferent when he said there were three young people on board the Varmint, who were expecting to spend the summer on an island near Fred's grandfather's and were also confident that the boat race was to be the supreme event of the summer.

In spite of his declaration that he was not anxious, it was plain to his friends that Fred was somewhat cast down by the glowing reports which his companion had brought concerning the swift rival motor-boat.

”To-morrow we'll be on the 'ragin' canawl,”' said Grant. ”Now then, I want to know if there is any fellow in this crowd who knows anything about the world's great ca.n.a.ls.”

”We don't know anything,” said Fred. ”We heard you talking this morning, but how much of what you said is true n.o.body knows, not even yourself.”

”It's all true,” retorted Grant. ”As I told you I wasn't willing to start on a trip like this without knowing something about what I was doing.”

”When do you start on that new line?” laughed George.

”It doesn't make any difference,” said Grant. ”Now the Panama Ca.n.a.l, for example belongs to the United States, doesn't it?”

”It does,” acknowledged Fred.

”Well, now as a future citizen of this country just tell me between what places that ca.n.a.l extends. If there is one fellow in this crowd who can give me the right answer I will pay for the dinner for all the Go Ahead boys.”

”Panama,” said John promptly.

”Panama what?” retorted Grant sharply.

”Why the Panama Ca.n.a.l is located at the City of Panama,” said John somewhat abashed by the manner of his friend.

”That's good as far as it goes,” said Grant, ”but I want to know if you know where the other end of the ca.n.a.l is located.”

The three boys looked blankly at one another and for an instant no one spoke.

”The ca.n.a.l extends between Colon and the City of Panama,” said Grant hastily.

”That's exactly what I was going to say,” said George. ”You took the words right out of my mouth. You did it so that you wouldn't have to pay for the dinner to-morrow. I guess every one of us knows where the Panama Ca.n.a.l is.”