>>> YOU ARE VIEWING A 200 LINE SAMPLE OF EBOOK# E02140 <<< TITLE: THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND THEIR RACING MOTORBOAT AUTHOR: ROSS KAY EBOOK: E02140 (O'Briens Book Cellar) THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND THE RACING MOTOR-BOAT BY ROSS KAY Author of ``Dodging the North Sea Mines," "With Joffre on the Battle Line," "Fighting in France," "The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island," "The Go Ahead Boys and the Treasure Cave," etc. etc. Preface Every normal boy loves a motor-boat, but words fail to express his enthusiasm when that boat is also a racer. Behind the events recorded in this story are certain facts, so that the tale is largely true. The author will be glad if the account of life in the open, the adventures and fortunes, good or ill, the contests and exciting experiences interest his readers even partly as much as they did the boys who shared in the actual occurrences. I have tried to write a story filled with action, but devoid of sensationalism and false representations. If my boy friends enjoy the company of the Go Ahead boys I shall feel repaid for my labor. Ross Kay CONTENTS I THE START II ON THE WAY III JOHN DISAPPEARS IV THE LOST IS FOUND V THE MISSING BAG VI IN THE TAVERN VII AN UNWELCOME PARTY VIII THE COMING OF THE CALEDONIA IX A FRIEND IN NEED X IN TROUBLE XI RESCUED XII A BATTLE WITH ARMS AND LEGS XIII A SURPRISE XIV A SURPRISING PASSENGER XV AN UPSET XVI THE RESCUE XVII SENDING FOR SAM XVIII A TEST XIX THE LOST FISH XX SAM'S WARNING XXI THE SUMMONS IN THE NIGHT XXII A COLLISION XXIII THE CALL IN THE NIGHT XXIV THE MAN IN THE BOAT-HOUSE XXV THE OWNER OF THE BOND XXVI CONCLUSION THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND THE RACING MOTOR-BOAT CHAPTER I THE START "Here we go!" "We're off!" "Look quick, or we'll be out of your sight." The long, low motor-boat glided smoothly out from the dock to which it had been made fast. Behind it the water boiled as if it had been stirred by some invisible furnace. The graceful lines of the boat, its manifest power and speed, formed a fitting complement to the bright sunshine and clear air which rested over the waters of the Hudson River. On the dock, which the Black Growler was leaving so rapidly behind her, were assembled various members of the families represented by the four boys on board the motor-boat. Younger brothers and sisters, two uncles, several aunts, not to mention the various fathers and mothers united in a final word of farewell. Handkerchiefs were waved and the sounds of the last faint call came across the intervening waters. The Black Growler was leaving Yonkers to be gone more than a month. The trip was one to which the Go Ahead boys had looked forward with steadily increasing interest. In the first place the boat belonged to Fred Button, one of the quartet. Fred now was at the wheel and the expression of pride on his face as he occasionally glanced behind him at his companions was one that indicated something of the feeling in his heart. And indeed there was a substantial basis for Fred's pride. Among the many boats on the river the Black Growler moved as if she belonged in a class of her own. People on board the cat boats or yachts, and even the passengers on a great passing steamer, all stood looking with manifest interest at the dark-colored little boat which was speeding over the waters almost like a thing alive. Fred Button, the owner and present pilot of the swift motor-boat was the smallest, or at least the shortest, of the four boys. His age was the same as that of his companions, all of whom were about seventeen. His round body and rounder face were evidences that in time what Fred lacked in length he might provide in breadth. Among his companions he was a great favorite and frequently was called by one of the several nicknames which his comrades had bestowed upon him. Peewee or Pygmy, the latter sometimes shortened to Pyg, were names to which he answered almost as readily as to his Christian name. His most intimate friend of the four was John Clemens, whose nickname, "String," indicated what his physique was. He was six feet three inches in height, although his weight was not much more than that of the more diminutive Fred. "The long and the short of it" the two boys sometimes were called when they were seen together. Grant was the one member of the Go Ahead boys who easily led in whatever he attempted. His standing in school was high and his time in the hundred yards dash stood now as a school record. His fund of general information was so large that some years before, in a joke he had been dubbed Socrates. That expressive name, however, had recently been shortened to Soc. George Washington Sanders, one of the most popular boys in his school, frequently was referred to as Pop, by which designation his friends indirectly expressed their admiration for one who, even if he bore the name of the Father of his Country, was laughingly referred to as the Papa of the Land. This nickname in the course of time had been shortened to Pop. Already the four Go Ahead boys had had several stirring experiences in their summer vacations. One of these had been spent at Mackinac Island where their adventures had been chiefly concerned with Smugglers' Island. Together they had made a voyage to the West Indies where their experiences on a desert island have been already recorded.[1] Together they had investigated the mysteries connected with an old house near George's country home, a place shunned by the country folk because of its reputation of being haunted.[2] Another delightful summer had been spent by the boys in a camp in the Canadian woods.[3] All these experiences had only prepared the way for the days which now were confronting them. [1] See "The Go Ahead Boys and The Treasure Cave." [2] "The Go Ahead Boys and the Mysterious Old House." [3] See "The Go Ahead Boys and the Island Camp." Every one was confident that the Black Growler would give a good account of herself in the motor-boat races which were to be held on the St. Lawrence River. The grandfather of Fred Button, who was the fortunate owner of an island in the majestic river, had invited the boys to spend a month with him in his cottage. Incidentally he had explained that their visit would be at the time when the boat races occurred, which he had no question they all would greatly enjoy. He was unaware that Mr. Button had already purchased a motor-boat of marvelous speed, although at the time he had no thought that it would be entered in any contest or races. Yielding to Fred's persuasions at last his father had somewhat reluctantly given his consent for the boat to be entered, as well as for Fred to invite the other three Go Ahead boys to spend the coming weeks together on the island. All these thoughts were more or less in the minds of the Go Ahead boys when the Black Growler swiftly started on her long voyage. "Are you going to keep her going like this all the time?" demanded John as the swift little boat steadily continued on her way. "She doesn't like to slow up," replied Fred glancing behind him as he spoke. "She had better slow up than blow up," retorted John. "No danger of that," laughed Fred. "The first thing you know we'll be in the canal." "I hope not," laughed Grant. "It will be a great day when the Go Ahead boys learn how to use the English language. You don't mean 'in' the canal, you mean 'on' the canal." "Perhaps he means what my grandfather used to call the 'ragin' canawl'," suggested Grant. "Maybe we'll be both IN it and ON it," laughed Fred. "If we should happen to strike a rock or bump into another boat it wouldn't be very hard to understand what would follow." "That makes me think," said Grant solemnly. "Are you sure that you know how to steer? If we were traveling on the Erie Canal as they used to go soon after it was opened--" "When was that?" broke in George. "1825. The Erie Canal extended from Albany to Lake Erie and was constructed chiefly because DeWitt Clinton worked for it with <<< END OF SAMPLE... (THE FULL EBOOK HAS 267854 TOTAL CHARACTERS) >>>