ed we are going to beat the Skylark."

"Beat her all to pieces!" added Frank Norwood. "She is doing it as
easily as though she were used to it."

"I give you the order to build the yacht," said Mr. Norwood.

"Thank you, sir; but I would rather wait till this race is finished
before I take the job. We may be beaten yet--badly beaten, too. There
are a dozen things that may use us up. The tide is not up, so that I
can't play off the dodge I did in the Sea Foam; and if I could, Bob
Montague is up to it."

"There is no need of any dodge of any sort," replied Mr. Norwood. "We
are beating the Skylark without manoeuvring; and that is the fairest way
in the world to do it."

"This is plain sailing, sir; and the Skylark's best point is on the
wind. For aught I know, the Maud may do the best with a free wind," said
Donald; and he had well nigh shuddered when he thought of the difference
in yachts in this respect.

"It may be so; but we are at least two lengths ahead of her now."

"Over three," said Kennedy.

"So much the better," laughed Mr. Norwood. "The more we gain with the
wind free, the less we shall have to make on the wind."

"But really, sir, this running down here almost before the wind is
nothing," protested Donald, who felt that his passenger was indulging in
strong expectations, which might not be realized. "The tug of war will
come when we go about. We have to beat almost dead to windward; and it
may be the Maud has given us her best point off the wind."

"You don't expect her to fail on the wind--do you, Don John."

"No, sir; I don't expect her to fail, for she did first rate yesterday,
when we tried her. She looked the breeze almost square in the face: but
I can't tell how she will do in comparison with the Skylark. Of course I
don't expect the Maud to be beaten; but I don't want you to get your
hopes up so high, that you can't bear a disappointment."

"We will try to bear it; but Frank don't want a yacht that is sure to be
beaten," added Mr. Norwood.

"Then perhaps it is fortunate I didn't take the job, when you offered to
give it to me."

"But I think the Maud will win the race," persisted the confident
gentleman.

"So do I; but it is always best to have an anchor out to windward."

"Bully for you, Don John!" shouted Kennedy, after the yacht had crossed
the channel where the sea was very rough and choppy. "You made a good
bit in the last quarter of an hour, and we are a dozen lengths ahead of
h