op into the air, clinging on to the halyards. The gun is
fired. Down they come, swinging in the air; and the moment they have
reached the deck they are off and up the ratlines again, again to drop
into the air until the gaff is high hoisted, the peak swinging this way
and that, and the gray folds of the mainsail lazily flapping in the
wind. The steamer begins to roar. The yachts fall away from their
moorings, and one by one the sails fill out to the fresh breeze. And
now all is silence and an easy gliding motion, for the eight competitors
have all started away, and the steamer is smoothly following them.

"How beautiful they are!--like splendid swans," Miss White said: she had
a glass in her hand, but did not use it, for as yet the stately fleet
was near enough.

"A swan has a body," said Macleod. "These things seem to me to be all
wings. It is all canvas, and no hull."

And, indeed, when the large top-sails and big jibs came to be set, it
certainly seemed as if there was nothing below to steady this vast
extent of canvas. Macleod was astonished. He could not believe that
people were so reckless as to go out in boats like that.

"If they were up in our part of the world," said he, "a puff of wind
from the Gribun Cliffs would send the whole fleet to the bottom."

"They know better than to try," Colonel Ross said, "Those yachts are
admirably suited for the Thames; and Thames yachting is a very nice
thing. It is very close to London. You can take a day's fresh air when
you like, without going all the way to Cowes. You can get back to town
in time to dine."

"I hope so," said Miss White, with emphasis.

"Oh, you need not be afraid," her host said, laughing. "They only go
round the Nore; and with this steady breeze they ought to be back early
in the afternoon. My dear Miss White, we sha'n't allow you to disappoint
the British public."

"So I may abandon myself to complete idleness without concern?"

"Most certainly."

And it was an enjoyable sort of idleness. The river was full of life and
animation as they glided along; fitful shadows and bursts of sunshine
crossed the foliage and pasture-lands of the flat shores; the yellow
surface of the stream was broken with gleams of silver; and always, when
this somewhat tame, and peaceful, and pretty landscape tended to become
monotonous, they had on this side or that the spectacle of one of those
tall and beautiful yachts rounding on a new tack or creeping steadily up
on