she isn't, Dory Dornwood?" demanded Corny, who was
rather indignant when the skipper made another prediction.

"I think I understand her little game," answered Dory mildly; for he
felt that he could afford to disregard the sharp tones of Corny.

"Where is she going?" asked Corny, wishing to make the skipper commit
himself fully.

"She is going to the eastward," replied Dory without any hesitation; for
it was all a plain case to him.

"How do you know she is, Dory?" demanded Corny. "She is still turning;
and she isn't headed any way yet."

"I think it is easy enough to see what she is about, Corny. Can't you
see it with your eyes shut?"

"No: I'm sure I can't; and I don't believe you can, Dory Dornwood,"
added Corny.

"She is now just as far west of Champion Rock as we are south of it. She
is going to the eastward, so as to cut us off if we try to reach the
ledges again. I think she has got her course now."

It was plain enough to all the members of the Goldwing Club, that, as
they could see the whole of the starboard side of the Missisquoi, she
was headed to the eastward. Corny gave it up when he saw that he could
hold out no longer. From the smoke that poured out of the smoke-stack of
the little steamer, it was plain that she was crowded to her best speed.

"She is in a hurry now," said the skipper, laughing.

"She is going to do a big thing now," added Thad. "She is going to catch
us, sure."

"But I think we had better be doing something," continued the skipper,
as he put the Goldwing before the wind.

"What are you going to do now, Dory?" asked Corny.

"That will depend upon circumstances," replied Dory, who suddenly
appeared to be disposed to keep his own counsel.

As soon as the schooner was up with the light-house, the skipper hauled
in his sheets again, and headed the Goldwing to the north-east. This
course seemed to bother the steamer, for it made it evident that the
boat did not intend to go near Champion Rock.

"She's after you again," said Corny a few minutes later. "She has
altered her course, and is coming down this way to head you off."

"All right! Let her come," replied Dory.

"But we are getting pretty close together," added Thad. "She is going to
catch us this time. At least, I am afraid she is."

"Don't worry about it, Thad. She isn't going to catch us on this tack."

The Missisquoi was coming in between Hog's Back Island and the reef of
the same name. She kept the red buoy on