ot suppose they could
while the whole force of the wind was acting against it. The two hands
at the line did not know what the centre-board was, or where it was; but
the skipper thought, as they seemed to be a little concerned about their
safety, that it was better for them to be employed.

"It's no use!" cried Thad. "I don't know what we are pulling at; but,
whatever it is, it won't come."

"What is there down there?" asked Nat Long, looking into the pump, which
was at the end of the centre-board casing.

"Now try it once more, fellows," said Dory, as he luffed the boat up,
and thus relieved the centre-board from the pressure.

"Now it comes," added Thad. "Shall we haul the thing through that hole?"

"No: that will do. Make the line fast to the cleat, as you found it."

"But what does all that mean? I never saw a boat that had a thing like
that in it," inquired Nat Long.

"You will learn all about it by and by. I have no time now to explain
any thing," answered Dory, looking behind him to ascertain the position
of the Missisquoi.

The steamer had come about. Pearl had found that he had been reckoning
wrong in regard to the movements of the Goldwing. Judging from his
present career, he was disgusted with strategy; for he was again running
directly for the schooner. The Missisquoi was laboring heavily in the
big waves, and her pilot did not appear to know how to favor her. At any
rate, he followed the schooner without regard to the wind or the waves.

"She is after us," said Corny, as the Goldwing went into the
comparatively smooth water under the lee of Garden Island. "She is going
to catch us, too, in the course of the next fifteen minutes."

"When she catches us, you tell me of it: will you, Corny?" added Dory.

"I think you will know it as well as I do, Dory. What's the use of
keeping this thing up? Let us hold on, and see what the fellow wants of
you," replied Corny.

"We will have the fun of the race if we don't have any thing more," said
Dory. "This is smooth sailing just here, but we shall have it rough
enough in about two minutes more. If any of you fellows don't want to go
back to Burlington, I will put you on shore at Garden Island."

"We might have to stay there a week," suggested Corny.

"I couldn't help that," answered Dory. "I told you not to come with me
if you were afraid of the boat."

"She is as safe for us as she is for Dory," added Dick Short.

"We shall get under the lee of Provide