companions. "It's a pity the rest of the family didn't take after
him."

"We did, but we didn't want to hog the whole thing. We had to let
some one else have a chance too."

Meanwhile the Black Growler was speeding swiftly over the waters
of the Erie Canal. Fred was driving at high speed and as the boat
sped forward he was keenly watching for the coming of a boat that
might provide help for the Go Ahead boys in their predicament.

Several canal-boats had been passed, but there was no one on
board who appeared to be able to help.

The unwelcome guests still talked noisily to one another, but in
the main they ignored the boys and as yet had not offered any
violence.

"Who's running this 'ere boat, Jim?" suddenly spoke up one of the
passengers. "I thought you said this was your yacht."

"I did say so," answered Jim promptly. "I'm just taking out a
pleasure party. Didn't you never go to no picnic afore? I want
you to be good, for we have got comp'ny on board. When you have
got guests you have to be perlite whether you want to be or not."

Still the Black Growler was moving swiftly. The waters over which
she was passing seethed and boiled as if they had been heated by
unseen fires. Even Fred had lost a part of his alarm as he began
to suspect that his uninvited passengers did not know how to