enced to the state prison for ten years. He was
overwhelmed by this result. He swore like a pirate, and then he wept
like a child; but he was sent to Thomaston, and put to hard work.

Laud pleaded guilty, and was sent to the same institution for a year.
There was hope of him; for if he could get rid of his silly vanity, and
go to work, he might be saved from a lifetime of crime.

Donald came out of the fire without the stain of smoke upon him. After
the great race, as Mr. Norwood was in no hurry for the Alice, he went on
the long cruise with the fleet, in the Sea Foam. They coasted along the
shore as far as Portland, visiting the principal places on the seaboard.
On the cruise down Donald "coached" his friend, Ned Patterdale, in the
art of sailing; and on the return he rendered the same service to
Rodman. Both of them proved to be apt scholars; and after long practice,
they were able to bring out the speed of their yachts, and stood a fair
chance in a regatta.

On the cruise, the yachts were racing all the time when under way, but
the results were by no means uniform. When Donald sailed the Maud, she
beat the Skylark; but when Rodman skippered her himself, the commodore
outsailed him. The Maud beat the Sea Foam, as a general rule; but one
day Robert Montague sailed the latter, and the former was beaten.

"Don John, I don't know yet which is the fastest craft in the fleet,"
said Commodore Montague, as they were seated on Manhegan Island, looking
down upon the fleet anchored below them.

"I thought you did, Bob," laughed Donald.

"No, I don't. I have come to the conclusion that you can sail a yacht
better than I can, and that is the reason that you beat me in the Maud,
as you did in the Sea Foam."

"No, no!" replied Donald. "I am sure I can't sail a boat any better than
you can."

"I can outsail any boat in the fleet when you are ashore."

"We can easily settle the matter, Bob."

"How?"

"You shall sail the Maud, and I will sail the Skylark. If the difference
is in the skippers, we shall come in about even. If the Maud is the
better sailer, you will beat me."

"Good! I'll do it."

"You will do your best in the Maud--won't you?"

"Certainly; and you will do the same in the Skylark."

"To be sure. We will sail around Matinicus Rock and back."

The terms of the race were agreed upon, and the interest of the whole
club was excited. The party went on board the fleet, and the two yachts
were moored in line.