58 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



pair of heels," said Frank, taking a pull at the sheet and trying 

 to creep up to windward of the dyke. The blue yacht, how- 

 ever, stood by so as to meet them, and Frank saw, by the way 

 she went through the water, even when her sails were hauled 

 almost flat, that she could beat the Swan in sailing to windward. 

 A gentleman stood up in the strange yacht and called out, 



" Bear up alongside, you young rascals, and give me your 

 names and addresses. I shall summon you for trespassing." 



" Not if I know it," said Frank, bringing the Swan sharply 

 round on her heel, and scudding away before the wind, followed 

 by the other in full chase. 



" Now, Jimmy and Dick, stand by the sheets, and when we 

 get opposite the bottom of that long island, we will bring her 

 sharp round the other side, and then they can't get across and 

 meet us, and then we'll cut and run for the dyke." 



They executed this manoeuvre very neatly, but the other was 

 too quick for them, and instead of following them round the 

 island, they turned back and made for the mouth of the dyke 

 to intercept them, and' at a much better angle of the wind than 

 that at which fas' Swan had to sail. 



" We shall come into collision," said Jimmy, as he took a 

 hearty pull at the mizen sheet. " We cannot both get through 

 the d'yke." 



" Never mind. We'll cram her at it. Stand by with the 

 boat-hook to push the blue 'un off, Dick ! " but as Dick stood 

 ready with the boat-hook to push off, a man stood in the other 

 yacht with his boat-hook to pull them in, and as Dick pushed, 

 his adversary pulled. The two boats ran alongside for a few 

 yards, and then were jammed together at the mouth of the 

 creek, and Mr. stepped on board. 



" Now what is the meaning of this ? " he exclaimed angrily. 



" We came into the broad out of curiosity, sir," said Frank ; 

 "and we could not see the notice-board until we were in the 

 broad, and then we thought we might as well take a turn round 

 before going out, but we are sorry you have caught us." 



*' Oh, are you really ! Well, I want to preserve the broad for 

 wild-fowl, so I don't like it to be disturbed; but where did you 

 get this strange boat built ? " 



"We built it ourselves," answered the boys, and then in 

 reply to the inquiries, they told him all about it, and their 

 object, and by the time all was explained to him they found 



