by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XVII.
THE GREAT RACE.
It was nine o'clock when Donald turned out on the day of the greatregatta. He had returned at three in the morning, nearly exhausted byfatigue and anxiety. It was horrible to be suspected of a crime; andbravely as he had carried himself, he was sorely worried. He talked thematter over with his mother and sister while he was eating hisbreakfast.
"Why should Laud Cavendish charge you with such a wicked deed?" askedhis mother.
"To save himself, I suppose," replied Donald. "But he won't makeanything by it. He hid those papers in the shop within a day or two, Iam sure, for I had my hand in the place where he put them, feeling for abrad-awl I dropped day before yesterday, and I know they were not therethen. But he is used up, anyhow, whether we find the box or not, for hetells one story and Captain Shivernock another; and I think CaptainPatterdale believes what I say now. But the race comes off to-day, andif I lose it, I am used up too."
The boat-builder left the house, and went on board of the Maud, whichlay off the shop. Samuel Rodman was on deck, and they hoisted themainsail. The wind had hauled round to the north-west early in themorning, and blew a smashing breeze, just such as Donald wanted for thegreat occasion. In fact, it blew almost a gale, and the wind came inheavy gusts, which are very trying to the nerves of an inexperiencedboatman. The Penobscot, gayly dressed with flags, was moored in herposition for the use of the judges.
"We shall not want any kites to-day," said Donald, as he made fast thethroat halyard.
"No; and you may have to reef this mainsail," added Rodman.
"Not at all."
"But it is flawy."
"So much the better."
"Why so?"
"Because a fellow that understands himself and keeps his eyes wide openhas a chance to gain something on the heavy flaws that almost knock aboat over. It makes a sharper game of it."
"But Commodore Montague is up to all those dodges."
"I know he is; but in the other race, he lost half his time by luffingup in a squall."
"But don't you expect a fellow to luff up in a squall?" demanded Rodman.
"If necessary, yes; but the point is, to know when it must be done. Ifyou let off the main-sheet or spill the sail every time a puff comes,you lose time," replied Donald. "I believe in keeping on the safe side;but a fellow may lose the race by dodging every capful of wind thatcomes. There goes the first gun."
"Let us get into line," added Rodman, as he cast off the moorings andhoisted the jib. "Let her drive."
Donald took the helm, and the Maud shot away like an arrow in the freshbreeze.
"Her sails set beautifully," said the skipper for the occasion; thoughRodman was nominally the captain of the yacht, and was so recorded inthe books of the club.
"Nothing could be better."
"We shall soon ascertain how stiff she is," added Donald, as a heavyflaw heeled the yacht over, till she buried her rail in the water. "Idon't think we shall get anything stronger than that. She goes down justso far, and then the wind seems to slide off. I don't believe you canget her over any farther."
"That's far enough," replied Rodman, holding on, to keep his seat in thestanding-room.
The Maud passed under the stern of the judges' yacht, and anchored inthe line indicated by the captain of the fleet. The Skylark soonarrived, and took her place next to the Penobscot. In these two yachtsall the interest of the occasion centred. The Phantom and the Sea Foamsoon came into line; and then it was found that the Christabel hadwithdrawn, for it blew too hard for her. Mr. Norwood and his son came onboard, with Dick Adams, who was to be mate of the Maud, and Kennedy, whowas well skilled in sailing a boat. Donald had just the crew he wanted,and he stationed them for the exciting race. Mr. Norwood was to tend thejib-sheets in the standing-room, Kennedy the main sheet, while DickAdams, Frank Norwood, and Sam Rodman were to cast off the cable andhoist the jib forward.
"Are you all ready, there?" called Donald, raising his voice above thenoise made by the banging of the mainsail in the fresh breeze.
"All ready," replied Dick Adams, who was holding the rode with a turnaround the bitts.
"Don't let her go till I give the word," added Donald. "I want to fillon the port tack."
"Ay, ay!" shouted Dick; "on the port tack."
This was a very important matter, for the course from the judges'station to Turtle Head would give the yachts the wind on the portquarter; and if any of them came about the wrong way, they would becompelled to gybe, which was not a pleasant operation in so stiff abreeze. Donald kept hold of the main-sheet, and by managing the sail alittle, contrived to have the tendency of the Maud in the rightdirection, so that her sail would fill on the port tack. He saw thatDick Adams had the tender on the port bow, so that the yacht would notrun it down when she went off.
"There goes the gun!" shouted Rodman, very much excited as the decisivemoment came.
But Dick Adams held on, as he had been instructed to do, and pulled withall his might, in order to throw the head of the Maud in the rightdirection.
"Hoist the jib!" shouted Donald, when he saw that the yacht was sure tocast on her port tack.
Rodman and Norwood worked lively; and in an instant the jib was up, andMr. Norwood had gathered up the lee sheet.
"Let go!" added Donald, when he felt that the Maud was in condition togo off lively.
She did go off with a bound and a spring. Donald crowded the helm hardup, so that the Maud wore short around.
"Let off the sheet, lively, Kennedy!" said the skipper. "Ease off thejib-sheet, Mr. Norwood!"
"We shall be afoul of the Phantom!" cried Dick Adams, as he began to runout on the foot-ropes by the bowsprit.
"Lay in, Dick!" shouted Donald. "Don't go out there!"
Dick retraced his steps, and came on deck. The Phantom had not cast inthe right direction, and was coming around on the starboard tack, whichhad very nearly produced a collision with the Maud, the two bowspritscoming within a few inches of each other.
"I was going out to fend off," said Dick, as he came aft, in obedienceto orders.
"I was afraid you would be knocked off the bowsprit, which is a badplace to be, when two vessels put their noses together. It was a closeshave, but we are all right now," replied the skipper.
"The Sea Foam takes the lead," added Mr. Norwood.
"She had the head end of the line. The Skylark made a good start."
"First rate," said Kennedy. "She couldn't be handled any better than sheis."
"We lead her a little," continued Mr. Norwood.
"We had the advantage of her about half a length; as the Sea Foam has alength the best of us."
The yachts were to form the line head to the wind, and this line wasdiagonal with the course to Turtle Head, so that the Sea Foam, which wasfarthest from the Penobscot, had really two length's less distance to goin getting to Stubb's Point Ledge than the Skylark; but this differencewas not worth considering in such a breeze, though, if the commodore wasbeaten by only half a length by the Maud, he intended to claim the raceon account of this disparity. The two yachts in which all the interestcentred, both obtained a fair start, the Maud a little ahead of hergreat rival. The Phantom had to come about, and get on the right tack,for Guilford was too careful to gybe in that wind. The Sea Foam got offvery well; and Vice Commodore Patterdale was doing his best to make agood show for his yacht, but she held her position only for a moment.The tremendous gusts were too much for Edward's nerves, and he luffedup, in order to escape one. The Maud went tearing by her, with theSkylark over lapping her half a length.
"Haul up the centre-board a little more, Dick," said Donald, who did notbestow a single glance upon his dreaded rival, for all his attention wasgiven to the sailing of the Maud. "A small pull on the jib-sheet, Mr.Norwood, if you please."
"You gained an inch then," said Kennedy, striving to encourage thestruggling skipper.
But Donald would not look at the Skylark. He knew that the shortestdistance between
two points was by a straight line; and having taken atree on the main land near Castine as his objective point, he kept it inrange with the tompion in the stove-pipe, and did not permit the Maud towabble about. Occasionally the heavy gusts buried the rail in the brine;but Donald did not permit her to dodge it, or to deviate from hisinflexible straight line. She went down just so far, and would go nofarther; and at these times it was rather difficult to keep on the seatat the weather side of the standing-room. Dick Adams, Norwood, andRodman were placed on deck above the trunk, and had a comfortableposition. The skipper kept his feet braced against the cleats on thefloor, holding on with both hands at the tiller; for in such a blow, itwas no child's play to steer such a yacht.
"You are gaining on her, Don John," said Mr. Norwood.
"Do you think so, sir?"
"I know it."
"The end of her bowsprit is about even with the tip of our main boom,"added Kennedy.
"How much fin have we down, Dick?" asked the skipper.
The mate of the Maud rushed to the cabin, where the line attached to thecentre-board was made fast, and reported on its condition.
"Haul up a little more," continued Donald. "Steady! Not the whole of it,but nearly all."
"It is down about six inches now."
"That will do."
For a few moments all hands were still, watching with intense interestthe progress of the race. The commodore, in the Skylark, was evidentlydoing his level best, for he was running away from the Sea Foam and thePhantom.
"Bravo, Don John!" exclaimed the excited Mr. Norwood. "You are a fulllength ahead! I am willing to sign the contract with Ramsay & Son tobuild the yacht for me."
"Don't be too fast, sir. We are not out of the woods yet, and shall notbe for some time."
"I am satisfied we are going to beat the Skylark."
"Beat her all to pieces!" added Frank Norwood. "She is doing it aseasily as though she were used to it."
"I give you the order to build the yacht," said Mr. Norwood.
"Thank you, sir; but I would rather wait till this race is finishedbefore I take the job. We may be beaten yet--badly beaten, too. Thereare a dozen things that may use us up. The tide is not up, so that Ican't play off the dodge I did in the Sea Foam; and if I could, BobMontague is up to it."
"There is no need of any dodge of any sort," replied Mr. Norwood. "Weare beating the Skylark without manoeuvring; and that is the fairest wayin the world to do it."
"This is plain sailing, sir; and the Skylark's best point is on thewind. For aught I know, the Maud may do the best with a free wind," saidDonald; and he had well nigh shuddered when he thought of the differencein yachts in this respect.
"It may be so; but we are at least two lengths ahead of her now."
"Over three," said Kennedy.
"So much the better," laughed Mr. Norwood. "The more we gain with thewind free, the less we shall have to make on the wind."
"But really, sir, this running down here almost before the wind isnothing," protested Donald, who felt that his passenger was indulging instrong expectations, which might not be realized. "The tug of war willcome when we go about. We have to beat almost dead to windward; and itmay be the Maud has given us her best point off the wind."
"You don't expect her to fail on the wind--do you, Don John."
"No, sir; I don't expect her to fail, for she did first rate yesterday,when we tried her. She looked the breeze almost square in the face: butI can't tell how she will do in comparison with the Skylark. Of course Idon't expect the Maud to be beaten; but I don't want you to get yourhopes up so high, that you can't bear a disappointment."
"We will try to bear it; but Frank don't want a yacht that is sure to bebeaten," added Mr. Norwood.
"Then perhaps it is fortunate I didn't take the job, when you offered togive it to me."
"But I think the Maud will win the race," persisted the confidentgentleman.
"So do I; but it is always best to have an anchor out to windward."
"Bully for you, Don John!" shouted Kennedy, after the yacht had crossedthe channel where the sea was very rough and choppy. "You made a goodbit in the last quarter of an hour, and we are a dozen lengths ahead ofher."
"Surely she can never gain that distance upon us!" exclaimed Mr.Norwood.
"It is quite possible, sir. I have known a boat to get a full mile aheadof another before the wind, and then be beaten by losing it all, andmore too, going to windward. I expect better things than that of theMaud; but she may disappoint me. She is only making her reputation now."
Donald watched his "sight" ahead all the time, and had not seen theSkylark for half an hour. The party was silent again for a while, butthe Maud dashed furiously on her course, now and then burying her rail,while the water shot up through the lee scupper-holes into thestanding-room. But Dick Adams, who was a natural mechanic, was making apair of plugs to abate this nuisance.
"Turtle Head!" exclaimed Rodman, who, though he had said but little,watched the movements of the yacht with the most intense delight andexcitement.
"We are a square quarter of a mile ahead of the Skylark," said Kennedy."Business will be good with us, Don John, after this."
"Give her a little more main-sheet, Kennedy," was the skipper's reply,as the yacht passed the Head, and he kept her away a little.
"Eleven thirty," mused Mr. Norwood, who had taken out his gold watch,and noted the moment when the Maud passed the headland.
"Now, mind your eye, all hands!" shouted Donald, as the Maud approachedthe north-east point of Long Island, where he had to change her coursefrom south-east to south, which involved the necessity, with the windnorth-west, of gybing, or coming about head to the wind.
It would take a small fraction of a minute to execute the lattermanoeuvre; and as the sails were now partially sheltered under the leeof the land, the bold skipper determined to gybe. Kennedy had earlynotice of his intention, and had laid the spare sheet where it would notfoul anybody's legs. He hauled in all he could with the help of the mateand others.
"Now, over with it," said Donald, as he put the helm down.
The huge mainsail fluttered and thrashed for an instant, and then flewover. Kennedy, who had been careful to catch a turn in the rope, heldfast when the sail "fetched up" on the other tack, and then the yachtrolled her rail under on the port side.
"Let off the sheet, lively!" cried Donald.
"That's what I'm doing," replied the stout ship carpenter, paying offthe sheet very rapidly, so as to break the shock.
"Steady! belay! Now draw jib there."
As Dick Adams cast off the weather sheet in the new position, Mr.Norwood hauled in the lee. For a short distance the Maud had the wind onher starboard quarter; then the sheets were hauled in, and she took iton the beam, till she was up with the buoy on Stubbs Point Ledge, whichshe was to round, leaving it on the port. The ledge was not far from theland, on which was a considerable bluff, so that the wind had not morethan half its force. In rounding the buoy, it was necessary to gybeagain; and it was done without shaking up the yacht half so much as atthe north-east point.
"Now comes the pull," said Donald, as the Maud rounded the buoy. "Standby your sheets! Now brace her up! Give her the whole of the board,Dick."
Donald put the helm down; the jib and mainsail were trimmed as flat asit was judicious to have them; and the Maud was close-hauled, standingup to the northward. The skipper was careful not to cramp her by layingtoo close to the wind. He was an experienced boatman, and he governedhimself more by the feeling of the craft under him than by his sight. Hecould shut his eyes, and tell by the pressure of the tiller in his handwhether she was cramped, or was going along through the water.
"Did you get the time when the Skylark passed the Head, Mr. Norwood?"asked Donald.
"No; you made things so lively, I hadn't time to look," replied thegentleman. "I should like to know just how many minutes we are ahead ofher."
"I think I can tell you, sir," added the skipper, with a smile
.
"How many?"
"How many do you think, sir?"
"Five or six."
"Not more than one and a half, Mr. Norwood. Neither yacht has to givethe other time, and what we gain belongs to us."
"I should have thought we were at least five minutes ahead of her."
"No, sir. Now we have a chance to manoeuvre a little," added Donald. "Iknow just what the commodore will do; he will stand on this tack, whenhe gets round the buoy, till he is almost up with Brigadier Island; thenhe will make a long stretch. I shall not do so."
"Why not?"
"Because, if the wind lessens, he will get under the lee of the land. Ishall go just one mile on this tack," replied Donald. "Have you anyrubber coats on board, Sam?"
"I have only two."
"You will want them, for we are beginning to toss the spray about, asthough it didn't cost anything."
It was decidedly damp on the deck of the Maud, for the water thrown upby the waves, dashing against the weather bow, was carried by the gustywind to the standing-room, drenching those who sat there. Donald and hiscompanions had no fear of salt water, and were just as happy wet to theskin, as they were when entirely dry, for the excitement was quiteenough to keep them warm, even in a chill, north-west wind. Half wayacross to Brigadier Island, Donald gave the order, "Ready about," andtacked. As he had predicted, Commodore Montague continued on his course,almost over to the island, and then came about. The Maud rushedfuriously on her long stretch, dashing the spray recklessly over herdeck, till she was almost up with the Northport shore, when she tackedagain, and laid her course to windward of the judges' yacht, as theregulations required. As she rounded the Penobscot, a gun announced thearrival of the first yacht. The Maud let off her sheets, and passedunder the stern of the judges' craft.
"The Maud!" shouted Donald, enraptured with his victory.
Four minutes and thirty-four seconds later, the gun announced thearrival of the Skylark. It was all of twenty minutes later when the SeaFoam arrived, and half an hour before the Phantom put in an appearance.There was not a shadow of a doubt that the Maud had won the great race.