"You are? Then let me tell you, Captain Peewee, you will have a
mutiny on your hands before you know it. This boat is going on to
Albany. We have got to get there to-night and if John doesn't
care enough about going with us he will have to take the
consequences. Do you know I think he may have lost his nerve and
gone back home."

"Don't you believe it," said Fred sharply. "John will be here in
a few minutes. He never will lose his nerve."

Fifteen minutes however elapsed and still the absent member of
the Go Ahead boys did not return.

When fifteen more minutes had passed, Fred, who had insisted that
some investigation should be made and a search for John begun,
was overruled by his two companions and in spite of the captain's
protests, the Black Growler slipped quickly away from the dock
and proceeded steadily on her way up the Hudson.

There were no mishaps although twice Fred stopped to secure fresh
supplies of gasoline. No trace of the Varmint II had been seen
and if she too was headed for the far away St. Lawrence, there
was nothing to indicate the fact. And yet Fred became more
positive with the passing minutes that among his rivals in the
race in which his own swift motor-boat was already entered, would
be found the boat whose pursuit he had found it so difficult to
shake off.

The boys by the middle of the afternoon were tired. There was no
opportunity for exercise and in spite of the beauty of the region