Just why he had insisted upon taking them, he did not explain. So
human were the pieces in their appearance that a stranger might
have been startled when he first saw the heap.
As usual the Varmint II was speedily trailing the Black Growler.
Indeed it was not long before the two boats were moving side by
side, only a few feet intervening.
The Go Ahead boys had been singing a song which has long been
famous on the St. Lawrence,
"Saw my leg off,
Saw my leg off,
Saw my leg off,
Short!"
"That's what you'll have to do," called one of the men on board
the Varmint II, "to lighten your load the day of the race."
"We won't wait until then," called back George. "We'll see if we
can't lighten up a bit right now."
As soon as he had spoken, taking one of the artificial legs from
the pile he flung it far behind the swiftly moving motor-boat.
Instantly the men on the Varmint II rushed to the stern of their
boat and in astonishment were all looking at the leg which now
could be seen floating on the surface of the river.
CHAPTER XXV
THE OWNER OF THE BOND
A loud laugh arose from the people on board the Varmint II when
the floating leg was more clearly seen.
Indeed the last sound that came to the ears of the Go Ahead boys
from their rivals when the boat no longer was seen was a mocking
echo of their song,
"Saw my leg off--
Short!"
A half-hour afterward the Go Ahead boys stopped at one of the
largest islands and all four went ashore.
Pages:
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188