d the jib, for the mainsail was all the old craft could
stagger under, and her youthful skipper expected soon to be obliged to
reef. The Flyaway was at the eastward of the island, driving over and
through the waves like a phantom. The spray was dashing over her bows,
and her jib was wet several feet above the boltrope. She was working to
windward till she could clear the island, when she would have the wind
free into Bayville Harbor. Perhaps some of my non-nautical young readers
will need to be informed that working to windward means sailing in a
zigzag line in the direction from which the wind blows.

The Flyaway ran close in to Rock Island, and tacked at the very spot
where Paul had just been lying at anchor, and his boat was not more than
the eighth of a mile distant from her. The boys could distinctly see the
ladies and gentlemen on board of her, and replied to signals of
recognition that were made to them. There were several children on her
deck, and Paul identified Carrie Littleton in a little girl of ten, who
was waving her handkerchief to him. As the yacht came up into the wind,
and before the boom swung over, the young lady jumped upon the taffrail
to obtain a better view of them. To the horror of all who saw the
accident, the heavy spar struck her on the shoulder, and she was knocked
overboard. The Flyaway, catching the wind, flew from the spot, and when
the little girl rose to the surface of the water, she was out of the
reach of those on board of her.

"Heavens and earth!" shouted Paul, jumping up from his seat, as he
beheld the catastrophe. "There is Carrie Littleton knocked overboard by
the boom!"

"O, dear! She will be drowned!" gasped John.

"Take the helm, John! Don't blubber! Quick!" cried Paul, as he leaped
forward, and brailed up the sail. "Now, hard down! Lively!"

The boat, which was making very good headway, came about, and was headed
towards the island. Shaking out the sail again, she bore down towards
the unfortunate girl. In the meantime, the Flyaway had luffed up; though
she was nearer to Carrie than Paul's boat, she was rapidly drifting to
leeward. Her tender, which was a light canoe, had been placed upon deck,
and the crew were launching her; but as they did so, by the clumsiness
of some one engaged in the operation, she filled as she struck the
water, and they were obliged to haul her up again with the halliards.

Before they had made fast to the painter of the canoe, Paul had reached