Suddenly a great hush fell over the assembly. Every one anxiously looked toward the boat of the judges, striving to hear the announcement which was about to be made through the megaphone.
"Hold me!" said Fred. "If the Varmint II wins I think I shall need somebody to brace me up."
At that moment, however, the voice of the judge was heard and when he announced that by a margin of only six inches the Black Growler had won the cup, a shout went up from the crew of the little racing motor-boat that was heard above the din that followed the award.
"That's worth while, Peewee!" declared George as he pounded his diminutive friend upon his back.
"That's what it is!" joined in the other boys.
Meanwhile the victorious motor-boat had drawn alongside the Caledonia and as Fred looked up to the enthusiastic people on the deck the only voice to which he was listening was that of his grandfather.
"That was fine, young man!" shouted the old gentleman. "If you hadn't won that race I think I should have cut you off in my will. I have got a reward here for Sam, too, and you tell him not to leave before he has seen me."
Sam who also had heard the statement made no response until Fred eagerly turned to him and said, "You'll not leave, will you, Sam, without seeing my grandfather?"
Sam smiled as he replied, "Probably not. I don't intend to leave this boat anyway. She won out by six inches in this race but I'm tellin' you this isn't the only race she'll have, and when she is racing I don't intend to be very far away."
Other books in the series:
1. THE GO AHEAD BOYS ON SMUGGLERS' ISLAND
2. THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND THE TREASURE CAVE
3. THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND THE MYSTERIOUS OLD HOUSE
4. THE GO AHEAD BOYS IN THE ISLAND CAMP
5. THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND THE RACING MOTOR BOAT