Not long afterward a yawl was lowered from the boat and two men took their places at the oars. ([Page 151.])
PREFACE
A basis of fact underlies many of the incidents incorporated in this story. Even the letters are very like those received by one of the official agents of the United States Treasury. Occasional use has been made of the work entitled, “Defrauding the Government.” Out of his material the writer has tried to present a tale that should be stirring and yet wholesome, having plenty of action, but free from sensationalism.
Naturally, changes in characters and localities have been freely made. If his young readers shall be interested in the story and shall draw the conclusion that any attempt to defraud the Government reacts in harsher form upon the one who tried to evade the laws, a part at least of his purpose will have been accomplished.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE [I An Early Morning Party] 11 [II The Landing on the Canadian Shore] 20 [III A Mysterious House] 30 [IV The Coming of the “Gadabout”] 39 [V A Perplexing Letter] 48 [VI An Addition to the Party] 57 [VII Once More on Cockburn Island] 67 [VIII Left Behind] 76 [IX The Lost Skiff] 85 [X The Flight of the “Gadabout”] 93 [XI Alone on the Lake] 101 [XII The Search in the Night] 109 [XIII A Fresh Arrival] 117 [XIV Another Mysterious Letter] 126 [XV A Signal of Distress] 136 [XVI The Sinking Skiff] 144 [XVII The Rescue of the “Gadabout”] 152 [XVIII The Search for the Lost Boys] 160 [XIX Suspicious Characters] 168 [XX Penniless] 178 [XXI A Vague Hint] 188 [XXII A Passenger for Cockburn Island] 198 [XXIII An Unexpected Meeting] 207 [XXIV Two Boats] 217 [XXV A Small Box] 226 [XXVI Conclusion] 236
THE GO AHEAD BOYS ON
SMUGGLERS’ ISLAND
CHAPTER I
AN EARLY MORNING PARTY
“I never saw such a morning!”
“I never did either. I am glad I am alive!”