veral times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the
drizzle. Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and
each of us made a dash for the stairs.

Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors
sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails. Off in the
southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no
distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing
rapidly brighter. Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by
magic from the air.

Looking toward the northward I beheld the other yacht standing out in
bold relief upon a blacker, more dismal background. She was beautiful at
that moment--her sides and sails unnaturally whitened against the gloom,
suggesting a cameo set on a piece of slate. Our blocks began to creak,
sails bulged into huge scoops, masts tilted majestically, and the
_Whim_, freed from her enforced idleness, bounded in response.

"Wind!" Tommy shouted, his arms held skyward. "Aphrodite, sweet and
mighty, send a gale before the nighty!"

"But," Monsieur looked at him reprovingly, "Aphrodite is not goddess of
the wind!"

"Who said she was?" he innocently asked.

"You conjure her for the gale--bah!"

"That's because she rhymes with nighty, gezabo! When my Muse sings, to
hell with mythology! Come join the clouds--you're sordid!"

"These have been sordid clouds," the little fellow laughed. "I would
rather join you in other, but a more genial, wet."

"Gates, how long before we catch her?" I called.

"I carn't measure her speed yet, sir, but should say we won't be far
behind in an hour and a harf."

"Then," Tommy announced, "we'll go below and drink to the safety of our
sweet Princess--for, unless I'm greatly mistaken, this day will see the
finish of one good yacht! Give over the wheel and join us, Captain!"

It was a hilarious four that touched glasses in the cabin, and after
Gates went above we set to work in good earnest on our arms and
cartridge belts. Having seen that each piece worked perfectly we
followed him up, and the sight which greeted our eyes made us laugh for
joy.

How we accomplished it only Gates could have told, but now in the late
afternoon light the _Orchid_ seemed to be less than half her former
distance. Looking over the rail at the flying water I felt a great pride
in my father's craft, for she fairly skimmed along. Monsieur began at
once to hug the captain, and t