by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER X.
THE LAUNCH OF THE MAUD.
The heavy rain had driven nearly all the people on board of thePenobscot below, but the judges, clothed in rubber coats, kept the deck,in readiness to take the time of the rival yachts. After the squall, theweather was so thick that both of them were hidden from view. The craftnot in the race had anchored near the Penobscot, and on board of all theyachts the interest in the result was most intense.
"I'm afraid it will be no race," said Sam Rodman, who was now thechairman of the judges.
"The commodore will put the Skylark through, whatever the weather,"replied Frank Norwood.
"Don John will keep the Sea Foam flying as long as Bob runs the Skylark,you may depend."
"It was quite a little squall that swept across the bay just now," addedRodman. "I hope no accident has happened to them."
"I'll risk the accidents. I would give a dollar to know which one wasahead."
"Not much doubt on that point."
"I think there is. Don John generally knows what he is about. He don'tvery often say what he can do, but when he does, he means it."
"The commodore is too much for him."
"Perhaps he is, but I have hopes of the Sea Foam. Don John is buildingthe Maud for me, and I have some interest in this race. I don't want ayacht that is to be beaten by everything in the fleet. If the Skylark istoo much for the Sea Foam, the chance of the Maud won't be much better."
The judges discussed the merits of the two yachts for half an hourlonger, and there was as much difference of opinion among them as amongthe rest of the spectators of the race.
"There's one of them!" shouted Frank Norwood, as the Sea Foam emergedfrom the cloud of mist which accompanied the rain.
"Which is it?" demanded Rodman.
"I can't make her out," replied Norwood, for the yacht was over a miledistant.
"But where is the other? One of them is getting badly beaten," addedRodman.
"That must be the Skylark we see."
"I don't believe it is. It is so thick we can't make her out, but hersails look very white. I think it is the Sea Foam."
"There's the other!" exclaimed Norwood, as the Skylark was dimlyperceived in the distance.
"She is half a mile astern. It is a bad beat for one of them."
"That's so; and if it is the Sea Foam, I shall want to throw up thecontract for the Maud," said Rodman.
"There is one thing about it; both of those craft are good sea boats,and if they can carry whole jib and mainsail in this blow, they are justthe right kind of yachts for me. I like an able boat, even if she don'twin any prizes. Give me a stiff boat before a fast one."
"I should like to have mine both stiff and fast."
"Look at the Christabel. She went round the course with a reef in thefore and main sails, and was beaten at that," added Norwood. "Here comesthe head boat. It is the Skylark, as sure as you live."
"Not much, Frank. Do you see her figure-head? Is it a bird?" demandedRodman, triumphantly.
"It isn't; that's a fact."
"That's the Sea Foam fast enough."
This was exciting news, and Sam Rodman walked rapidly to thecompanion-way of the Penobscot.
"Yachts in sight!" shouted he to the people below.
"Which is ahead?" asked Mr. Montague.
"The Sea Foam," replied Rodman.
"I'm so glad!" exclaimed Miss Nellie Patterdale.
Mr. Montague and Captain Patterdale only laughed, but they weresufficiently interested to go on deck in spite of the pouring rain, andthey were followed by many others.
"Time!" shouted Sam Rodman, as the gun was fired.
"Four, thirty-two, ten," added Frank Norwood; and the figures wereentered upon the schedule.
The Sea Foam passed the judges' yacht, came about, and went under herstern.
"The Sea Foam," shouted Donald.
Though the spectators were not all satisfied with the result, they gavethree cheers to the victorious yacht, magnanimously led off by Mr.Montague himself.
"Time!" called Sam, as the Skylark came into the range of the chimney onshore.
"Four, thirty-six, twelve," said Norwood.
The Skylark came about, and passed under the stern of the Penobscot,reporting her name. The judges went below, and figured out the result,by which it appeared that the Sea Foam had beaten the Skylark, after thecorrection for the three inches' difference in length, by three minutesfifty-nine and four tenths seconds.
Donald was the first to come on board of the Penobscot, and wasgenerously congratulated on his decisive victory, especially by Mr.Montague, the father of the commodore. Robert followed him soon after,and every one was curious to know what he would say and do.
"Don John, you have beaten me," exclaimed he, grasping the hand ofDonald. "You have done it fairly and handsomely, and I am ready to giveup the first prize to the Sea Foam."
The party in the cabin of the Penobscot heartily applauded the conductof the commodore.
"You are very kind and generous, Bob," replied Donald, deeply moved bythe magnanimity of the commodore.
"When I am whipped, I know it as well as the next man. The silver vasebelongs to the Sea Foam."
"Not at all," protested Donald. "This last race was not for the vase,and you won the first one fairly."
"Of course the vase belongs to the commodore," added Rodman. "The judgeshave already awarded and presented the prizes."
This was the unanimous sentiment of all concerned, and Robert consentedto retain the first prize.
"I say, Don John," continued the commodore, removing his wet coat andcap, "I want to have an understanding about the affair. While I own thatthe Skylark has been beaten, I am not so clear that the Sea Foam is thefaster boat of the two."
"I think she is, commodore," laughed Donald; "though I believe Iunderstand your position."
"We made an even thing of it till we came up with Turtle Head--didn'twe?"
"Yes, that's so. If either gained anything for the moment, he lost itagain," replied Donald.
"Then, if we made exactly the same time to Turtle Head, it seems to methe merits of the two boats are about the same."
"Not exactly, commodore. You forgot that the Skylark has to give time tothe Sea Foam--one and three-tenths seconds per mile; or about eightseconds from here to the Head."
"That's next to nothing," laughed Robert. "But I was a length ahead ofyou."
"I let you gain that, so that I could go to windward of you."
"You made your first point by running nearer to the rocks than I like togo, by which you cut off a little of the distance; and inches counted inso close a race."
"That's part of the game in sailing a race."
"I know that, and it's all perfectly fair. I lost half my time when thesquall came. I thought it was going to be heavier than it proved to be."
"I threw the Sea Foam up into the wind when it came," said Donald.
"But you didn't drop your peak, and I lost two minutes in doing it. Now,Don John, I can put my finger on the four minutes by which you beat me;and I don't think there is any difference between the two yachts."
"You forget the allowance."
"That's nothing. In all future regattas the result will depend more uponthe sailing than upon the boats."
"I think you are quite right, Bob; and the fellow who makes the mostmistakes will lose the race. But when the Maud is done she is going tobeat you right along, if she has anything like fair play," laughedDonald.
"She may if she can," replied Robert.
The reputation of Ramsay & Son, boat builders, was greatly increased bythe result of the race. If Edward Patterdale was a little mortified tohave it demonstrated that the Sea Foam had lost the first prize by hisown want of skill and tact in sailing her, he was consoled by the factthat Commodore Montague, who had the credit of being the best skipper inBelfast, had been beaten by his yacht. When the shower was over theparty went on shore, and Donald hastened to the shop to attend tobusiness.
He found that his men had done a good day's work in hisabsence, and he related to Kennedy all the particulars of the tworaces.
"It would have been a bad egg for you if you had not been present," saidKennedy, much interested in the story. "In these regattas the sailing ofthe yacht is half the battle, and these young fellows may ruin yourreputation as a boat-builder, if you don't look out for them."
"When I heard Ned Patterdale say he was disappointed in the Sea Foam, Ifelt that our business was nearly ruined. I think I have done a goodthing for our firm to-day."
"So you have, Donald; and when the Maud is finished, I hope you willsail her yourself in the first race she enters."
"I will, if Sam Rodman consents."
Donald paid off his men that night from the money received from Mr.Rodman. The next week he employed another hand, and worked diligentlyhimself. Every day his mother came out to see how the work progressed,as she began to have some hope herself of the success of the firm ofRamsay & Son. Donald paid her all the fees he received for measuringyachts, and thus far this had been enough to support the family. Shedid not inquire very closely into the financial affairs of the concern,and the active member of it was not very communicative; but she hadunbounded confidence in him, and while he was hopeful she was satisfied.
It would be tedious to follow the young builder through all the detailsof his business. The frame of the Maud was all set up in due time, andthen planked. By the first of August, when the vacation at the HighSchool commenced, she was ready to be launched. All the joiner work ondeck and in the cabin was completed, and had received two coats ofpaint. Mr. Rodman had paid a hundred dollars every week on account,which was more than Donald needed to carry on the work, and the affairsof Ramsay & Son were in a very prosperous condition.
On the day of the launch, the Yacht Club attended in a body, and all theyoung ladies of the High School were present. Miss Maud Rodman, with abottle in her hand, had consented formally to give her own name to thebeautiful craft. Nellie Patterdale was to be on deck with her, attendedby Donald and Sam Rodman. The boarding at the end of the shop had beenremoved, to allow the passage of the yacht into her future element. Theways had been laid down into the water, and well slushed. It was hightide at ten o'clock, and this hour had been chosen for the great event.
"Are you all ready, Mr. Kennedy?" asked Donald.
"All ready," replied the workman.
"Let her slide!" shouted the boat-builder.
A few smart blows with the hammers removed the dog-shores and thewedges, and the Maud began to move very slowly at first. Those on deckwere obliged to stoop until the hull had passed out of the shop.
"Now stand up," said Donald, as the yacht passed the end of the shop;and he thrust a long pole, with a flag attached to the end, into themast hole.
The boat increased her speed as she advanced, and soon struck the waterwith a splash.
"Now break the bottle, Maud," added Donald.
"I give this yacht the name of Maud," said Miss Rodman, in a loud tone,as she broke the bottle upon the heel of the bowsprit.
"Won't she tip over, Don John?" asked Nellie.
"Not at all; nearly all her ballast has been put into her, and she willstand up like a queen on the water," answered Donald, proudly, as herealized that the launch was a perfect success.
Loud cheers from the crowd on shore greeted the yacht as she went intothe embrace of her chosen element. The ladies waved their handkerchiefs,and the gentlemen their hats. Maud and Nellie returned the salute, andso did Sam Rodman; but Donald was too busy, just then, even to enjoy histriumph. As the hull slid off into the deep water, the boat-builderthrew over the anchor, and veered out the cable till her headway waschecked. The Maud rested on the water as gracefully as a swan, and thework of the day was done.
Hardly had the yacht brought up at her cable, when the Juno, in whichLaud Cavendish had been laying off and on where he could see the launch,ran alongside of her.
"Keep off!" shouted Donald; "you will scrape her sides."
"No; hold on, Don John; I have a cork fender," replied Laud, as he threwhis painter on board of the Maud. "Catch a turn--will you?"
"Don't let him come on board, if you can help it," whispered NelliePatterdale. "He is a terrible bore."
"I can help it," replied Donald, as, with a boat-hook he shoved off thebow of the Juno.
Then, for the first time, he observed that Laud had a passenger, a manwhom he remembered to have seen before, though he did not think where.
"What are you about, Don John?" demanded Laud.
"Keep off, then," replied Donald. "We don't want any visitors on boardyet. We are going to haul her up to the wharf at once."
"But I came off to offer the ladies a passage to the shore," said Laud.
"They don't want any passage to the shore."
"Good morning, Miss Patterdale," added Laud, as Nellie went to the railnear the Juno. "Allow me to offer you a place in this boat to convey youto the shore."
"Thank you, Mr. Cavendish; I intend to remain where I am," replied she,rather haughtily.
"I shall be happy to take you out to sail, if you will do me the honorto accompany me; and Miss Rodman, too, if she will go."
"No, I thank you; I am otherwise engaged," answered Nellie, as sheretreated to the other side of the yacht.
"I say, Donald, let me come on board," asked Laud, who was desperatelybent upon improving his acquaintance with Nellie Patterdale.
"Not now; you can come on board at the wharf."
Donald was resolute, and Laud, angry at his rebuff, filed away.
"Here is a man that wants to see you, Don John," shouted Laud, as he ranhis boat up to the Maud again.
"I can't see him now," replied Donald.
Kennedy now came alongside in the skiff, bringing a warp-line from theshore, by which the Maud was hauled up to the wharf. The spectators wenton board, and examined the work. Many of them crawled into the cabin andcook-room, and all of them were enthusiastic in their praise, though afew seasoned it with wholesome criticism. Some thought the cabin oughtto be longer, evidently believing that it was possible to put a quart ofwater into a pint bottle; others thought she ought to be rigged as aschooner instead of a sloop, which was a matter of fancy with the owner;but all agreed that she was a beautiful yacht. In honor of the event,and to please the young people, Mr. Rodman had prepared a collation athis house, to which the members of the Yacht Club and others werecordially invited. Kennedy and the other men who worked on the Maud wereincluded in the invitation, and the afternoon was to be a holiday. LaudCavendish, who had moored the Juno and come on shore, liberallyinterpreted the invitation to include himself, and joined the party,though he was not a member of the club. Some people have a certainexuberance on the side of their faces, which enables them to do thingswhich others cannot do.
"I want to see you, Don John," said Laud, as the party began to movefrom the wharf towards the mansion of Mr. Rodman.
"I'll see you this evening," replied Donald, who was anxious to gain aposition at the side of Miss Nellie Patterdale.
"That will be too late. You saw the man in the Juno with me--didn'tyou?" continued Laud, proceeding to open his business.
"I saw him."
"Did you know him?"
"No; though I thought I had seen him before," replied Donald, as theywalked along in the rear of the party.
"He is the man who was beaten within an inch of his life over toLincolnville, a while ago."
"Hasbrook?"
"Yes, his name is Jacob Hasbrook."
"He was with us in the library of Captain Patterdale the day we werethere, when the man had a sun-stroke."
"Was he? Well, I don't remember that. Folks say he is a big rascal, andthe licking he got was no more than he deserved. He was laid up for amonth after it; but now he and the sheriff are trying to find out whodid it."
Donald was interested, in spite of himself, and for the time even forgotthe pleasant smile of Nellie, which was a great deal f
or him to forget.
"Has he any idea who it was that beat him?"
"I don't know whether he has or not. He only asks questions, and don'tanswer any. You know I met you over to Turtle Head the morning after theaffair in Lincolnville."
"I remember all about it," answered Donald.
"I saw you in the Juno afterwards. By the way, Don John, you didn'ttell me how you happened to be in the Juno at that time. I don'trecollect whether you had her at Turtle Head, or not. I don't think Isaw her there, at any rate."
"No matter whether you did or not. Go on with your story, for we arealmost to Mr. Rodman's house," replied Donald, impatiently.
"Well, after I left you, I ran over towards Saturday Cove," continuedLaud. "You know where that is."
"Of course I do."
This was the place towards which Captain Shivernock had gone in thesail-boat, and where Laud had probably seen him, when he gave him themoney paid for the Juno. Laud did not say that this was the time andplace he had met the captain, but Donald was entirely satisfied on thispoint.
"From Saturday Cove I ran on the other tack over to Gilky's Harbor,"added Laud.
"Did you see anybody near the cove?"
"I didn't say whether I did or not," replied Laud, after somehesitation, which confirmed Donald's belief that he had met the captainon this occasion. "Never mind that. Off Gilky's Harbor I hailed TomReed, who had been a-fishing. It seems that Tom told Hasbrook he saw methat forenoon, and Hasbrook has been to see me half a dozen times aboutit. I don't know whether he thinks I am the fellow that thrashed him, ornot. He has pumped me dry about it. I happened to let on that I saw you,and Hasbrook wants to talk with you."
By this time they reached Mr. Rodman's house, and to the surprise ofDonald, Laud Cavendish coolly walked into the grounds with him.