262 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



The course was three times round the lake, outside of certain 

 mark-boats ; and, as the wind blew, the yachts would catch it 

 abeam for two-thirds the course, dead aft for a sixth, and dead 

 ahead for the remainder. As Frank said, it was a wind in every 

 respect suitable for the raft-like Swan. 



The race excited a great amount of interest. The Swan was 

 now well known to all the yachtsmen, and her change of name 

 provoked curiosity and interest, and as the signal came for the 

 yachts to take their station all eyes were upon the " Waterlog " 

 (as we will call her during the race). As the boys ran up her sails 

 and sailed away to the starting-point, a decided manifestation 

 of admiration arose as the great top-sails slowly ascended under 

 the strenuous efforts of Dick and Jimmy. As they fluttered in 

 the wind, Mary threw all her little weight on to the halyard to 

 assist in hauling them tight and flat 



Mary and Edith took up their places in the bows, where they 

 were out of the way, as there is no jib in a lugger rig. 



" Now, Dick," whispered Frank, " if any accident should 

 happen although it isn't likely do you see to Mary, and I'll 

 take Edith." 



" All right, old man." 



The yachts started from slip anchors, with the canvas set ; 

 and at the flash of the starting-gun, sheets were hauled in, 

 and the six yachts which came to the starting-point bounded 

 away almost simultaneously, the white water flashing away from 

 their bows, and boiling and eddying in their wake. The wind 

 was now blowing very fresh indeed, the other yachts were not 

 only gunwales under, but the water swept all over the leeward 

 half of their decks, and even the " Waterlog," in spite of the 

 width of her beam and double shape, had her leeward pontoon 

 completely submerged. 



On they surged, the two girls clinging to the forestay, 

 heedless of wet feet, and breathless with the swift excitement : 

 Frank firmly grasping the tiller, his teeth set and his blue eyes 

 gleaming ; Dick at the main-sheet, and Jimmy standing on the 

 counter with the mizen-sheet in his grasp, both watching their 

 captain, to be instant at his commands. 



The first round was quickly over, and then the position of 

 the competing yachts was this : The schooner was ahead, 

 then at a little distance came the " Waterlog," and close behind 

 her the rest of the yachts in a body. As they passed Mr. 



