passing and the detailed parts of the Black Growler.

"My grandfather says," exclaimed Fred, "that if we want to we can
send over to Henderson Harbor and perhaps can get Sam Hodge to
come here. He will be a good man to have on board when we are in
that race. I never saw any one that knew more about machinery
than he did."

"I'm telling you that you're still youthful," remarked Grant.
"Your experience is very limited."

"That may be so," acknowledged Fred with a laugh, "but it's
something I'll get over."

"Look yonder!" broke in John. "There's the Varmint II ahead of
us. I wonder if you can catch up with her!" As he spoke, John
turned and winked slowly at George who at once advanced to Fred's
side.

"Of course I can catch her if I want to," declared Fred.

"Which means that if you don't want to you can't catch her,"
laughed John derisively. "I don't believe there's anything you
want more than to catch up with her."

"I can do it," said Fred.

"That's easy to say."

Irritated by the laughter of his companions, who were eager to