THE GO AHEAD BOYS
ON
SMUGGLERS’ ISLAND

BY
ROSS KAY

Author of “The Search for the Spy,” “The Air Scout,”
“Dodging the North Sea Mines,” “With Joffre
on the Battle Line,” etc.

ILLUSTRATED BY
R. EMMETT OWEN

NEW YORK
BARSE & HOPKINS
PUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1916,
by
BARSE & HOPKINS

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!”

“So am I. It is worth something to be up here where the air is so strong that you can almost bite it off. When we left Mackinac this morning one could hardly tell whether the island was upside down or not. He could see the reflections just as