THE "-.WATERLOO'S " VICTORY. 261 



" Pray don't desert us now," said Frank, so piteously, that 

 Edith made no more objection for fear of vexing him. 



Over the fence of tall reeds which now separated them from 

 the broad they could see scores of white sails and gay pen- 

 nants, and it was evident that there was a large assemblage. 



" Why, Frank," said Mary, " I declare you are quite nervous ; 

 I can feel your arm tremble." 



Frank indignantly repelled the accusation, but Jimmy, who 

 was sitting on the roof of the cabin kicking his heels, said : 



<; I am awfully, miserably nervous, and I believe we are 

 going to make a tremendous mull of it, and we've done all 

 we can to make ourselves conspicuous." 



They had entered the yacht, out of a spirit of bravado, 

 under the name of "The Waterlog," and they had painted 

 the name on slips of stout paper, and tacked it over the 

 legitimate name of their yacht 



" Nonsense ! " was Frank's somewhat angry commentary on 

 Jimmy's speech. 



They now entered th.e broad, which presented a lively scene. 

 Yachts of all rigs and sizes were skimming about, with gunwales 

 under, to the stiff breeze. When the signal for the first race 

 was given, those yachts not engaged in it came to an anchor, and 

 the Swan, on whom all eyes were turned, took up her station 

 next to the yacht in which were Mr. Merivale and his friends. 



The wind continued to freshen and grow more gusty, so that 

 of those yachts which started with their top-sails, two had them 

 carried away in the first round, and the others had to take them 

 down, and the yacht which won had a single reef in her huge 

 main-sail. 



There were three races before the open race for which the 

 Swan was entered under her assumed name. I have not space 

 to dwell upon the incidents of these, nor to dilate upon the 

 glorious life and movement of the broad, with its crowd of white 

 sails, and its waves sparkling in the sunlight. Three of the best 

 yachts were, through being winners in the races, prohibited 

 from sailing in the open race, but there were nevertheless 

 a sufficient number of entries on the card of the races to 

 make our boys dubious as to the result of their somewhat bold 

 experiment. There were six named as to start. Two were 

 lateeners, one a schooner, two cutters, and the sixth was the 

 " Waterlog." , 



