the house after his hat.

The boys dropped in at Tubby's house on their way to the
water-front, and received from the stout youth some additional
details regarding Sam's boat.

"She's a hydroplane," volunteered Tubby, "and Tom Jennings, down
at the yard, says she's as fast as a race horse."

"A hydroplane?--that's one of those craft that cut along the top
of the water like a skimming dish, isn't it?" asked Merritt.

"That's the idea," responded Rob. "They're supposed to be as
speedy as anything afloat in smooth water."

Thus conversing they reached the boat-building yard of Sam
Redding's father and were greeted by Tom Jennings, a big
good-natured ship carpenter. "Hullo, Tom! Can we see that new
boat of Sam's?" inquired Rob,

"Sure, I guess there's no objection," grinned Tom, "come right
this way. There she is, over there by that big winch."

Report had not erred apparently as to the novel qualities of Sam
Redding's speed craft. She was about twenty-five feet long,
narrow and painted black. She was perfectly flat-bottomed, her
underside being deeply notched at frequent intervals. On the
edge of those notches she was supposed to glide over the water
when driven at top speed.