ed, as we noticed when we first started. The consequence was
that we skimmed along like a feather, whilst the _Emerald_ had to
displace many tons of water with every foot of progress which she made.

We passed through the opening in the magnificent breakwater which
shelters the roadstead at Portland, and soon afterwards began to feel
the heave of the Channel. Our tube-boat rushed along over the crests of
the waves with a very easy and steady motion, but the _Emerald_ started
rolling; and as we drew farther off the land, and got more into the
influence of the rough water, this rolling motion became so violent that
her boom had to be topped up pretty high to prevent it from dipping and
dragging in the water every time she rolled to leeward.

Bob sat watching her attentively for some time, and at length--

"Aren't this here _Emerald_ the little eight-tonner as took so many
prizes last year in the regattas?" said he.

I replied that she was.

"Well," said he, "we beat her all to nothing in a calm, or next door to
it, last night in the _Lily_, and I'm thinking we could run her under
water in a breeze like this here, with such a jump of a sea as we shall
get when we rounds to on our road back. What's your idee, my lad?"

"I think we could," replied I. "She is so long and narrow that she must
be a regular wet one close-hauled, as I expect we shall see shortly. If
I remember rightly, all her prizes were won in light winds or smooth
water; and though I do not believe we could do anything with her in a
staggering whole-sail breeze in _smooth_ water, I fancy we could give a
good account of her in a Channel match. But you must bear in mind, Bob,
that the _Lily_ is the larger craft of the two."

"That I deny," retorted Bob. "Heavier we may be as to tonnage,
accordin' to the way tonnage is measured; but she's got double our
power. I'll bet my 'lowance of grog for the next month to come that
she's got good seven ton or more of lead stowed away under her cabin
floor; whilst we've got two, besides the trifle in our keel; and
_power_, as you know well, Harry, is what tells in a breeze. Take us
all round, and, in spite of our difference of tonnage, I reckon we're
pretty much of a size, and consequently a very fair match, so far as
that goes. I should like to be alongside of her in the _Lily_ in such a
breeze and such water as this."

By this time we were close to the light-ship, still leading, and in
another minute we sh