ter than the other, for no two boats
of that sort were ever exactly alike. But so far as could be judged, the
race was likely to be a test rather of how the boats were sailed than of
their speed, boat for boat.

"I think you can sail on even terms, Dolly," said Eleanor. "I don't
believe there'll be any need for either of you to give away any time to
the other."

"I'm glad of that, Miss Eleanor," said Dolly. "It seems much nicer when
you're exactly even at the start."

"Here's Miss Turner now," said Bessie. "I guess they must be about ready
to start. I hope I'll do the right thing when you tell me, Dolly, but
I'm dreadfully afraid I won't."

"Don't worry about it, and you'll be much more likely to get along
well," said Margery Burton, calmly. "And remember that this race isn't
the most important thing in the world, even if Dolly thinks it is."

"Oh, it's all right for you to talk that way now," said Dolly. "But wait
till we're racing, Bessie, You'll find she's just as much worked up
about it then as I am--and probably more so."

"Well, all ready, Nell?" asked Mary Turner, coming up to them then.
"Gladys seems to think she's about ready to start, so I thought I'd walk
over and arrange about the details."

"I think the best way to fix up the start will be for the two sloops to
reach the opening in the bar together," said Eleanor. "They can start
there and finish there, you see, and that will save the need of having
someone to take the time. We really haven't anyone who can do that
properly. If we're close together at the start you and I can call to one
another and agree upon the moment when the race has actually begun."

"All right," said Miss Turner. "I'd thought of that myself." She lowered
her voice. "I didn't like to oppose this race, Nell," she said, speaking
so that only Eleanor could hear her, "but I'm not at all sure that it's
going to be a good thing."

"Why not? I thought it would be good sport."

"It ought to be, but I don't know how good a sportsman Gladys is. If she
wins, it will probably make her feel a lot better. But if she loses--!"

"I hadn't thought of that side of it," said Eleanor. "But--oh, well,
even so, I think it will probably be a good thing. Gladys has got a lot
of hard lessons to learn, and if this is one of them, the sooner she
learns it, the better. You and I will be along to see fair play. That
will keep her from having anything to say if she does lose, you see."

"We're in for