104 The Life Worth Living 



" Well, we'll hustle and get to the grounds 

 and then let the north wind howl," I replied. 

 "That's what we want for the ducks." 



As we swung out into the channel and 

 headed for the Chesapeake Bay, black 

 scurrying clouds from the north came sweep- 

 ing down and obscured the sun. In a quar- 

 ter of an hour the bay was a white smother. 

 I heard her new steel shrouds crack as her 

 tall masts heeled over and tested their 

 temper. 



"That's only the lanyards finding them- 

 selves," said George. 



"Do you think we'll have to reef her?" I 

 asked. 



"Na sir, she don't know it's a blowin* 

 with only them three sails. She wants a 

 thirty-mile breeze to show you what she 

 can do." 



And we got it. 



She swept down the dark waters of the 

 bay like a great white startled swan, her 



