didly exciting and invigorating about it,
and she loved every new sensation that came to her.

"Here's the _Defiance_ coming out," said Eleanor, after they had
been enjoying the sport for half an hour. "Gladys must like this sort of
a breeze, too."

"She does, but she's never had as much of it as I have," said Dolly. "I
hope she understands it well enough not to make any mistakes. A boat
like this takes a good deal of handling in a heavy breeze, and it seems
to me that she's carrying a good deal of sail."

"She seems to be getting along all right, though," said Eleanor, after
watching the _Defiance_ for a few minutes. "Why, Dolly, I wonder
what she's doing now."

The maneuvres of the _Defiance_ seemed strange enough to prompt
Eleanor's question, for, no matter how Dolly tacked, the _Defiance_
followed her, drawing nearer all the time. Since Dolly had no sort of
definite purpose in mind, it was plain that Gladys was simply following
her. And soon the reason was apparent.

"She's trying to race; she wants to show that she can beat us to-day
when there's plenty of wind," said Dolly. "If she wanted to race, why
didn't she say so?"

"Well, give her her way, Dolly," said Eleanor. "Keep straight on now for
a little while and see if she can beat you. We're just about on even
terms now."

And on even terms they stayed. Sometimes one, sometimes the other seemed
to gain a little advantage, but it was plain that the boats, as well as
the skippers, were very evenly matched. Since there was no agreement to
race, Dolly had the choice of courses, and in a spirit of mischief she
came about frequently. And every time she changed her course Gladys
followed suit.

Although the boats were often within easy hailing distance, Gladys
avoided Dolly's eyes, and nothing was said by those on either sloop.
They were satisfied with the fun of this impromptu racing. But at last,
when they were perhaps a mile from the opening in the bar, and very
close together, Eleanor, looking at her watch, saw that it was nearly
time for lunch.

"You'd better turn for home now, Dolly," she said. "Suppose I give
Gladys a hail and suggest a race to the bar?"

"All right," agreed Dolly.

"Gladys!" Eleanor sent her clear voice across the water, and Gladys
answered with a wave of her hands. She seemed in better humor than she
had been the day before.

"We're going in now. Want to race to the bar?"

"All right!" called Gladys, in answer and came about s