CHAPTER XVII.
THE MAN WHO SAW THE MONSTER.
The girls gladly welcomed the plan, for they felt there would be much pleasure in a cruise among the islands of the bay. At first, however, Miss Gale was opposed to it, but Frank won her over, as Inza felt certain he could.
So the next morning the girls appeared on the pier at an early hour, accompanied by the stern-faced but kind-hearted old maid, having been brought down from the hotel by a carriage.
The boys were on the watch for them, and a boat, containing Frank and Jack, pushed off from the White Wings immediately.
The girls, the chaperon, the baggage—all were taken into the boat and soon set aboard the yacht.
Half an hour later, with all sails set, the White Wings was running out to round the end of the breakwater.
With favorable wind and conditions, it is just a delightful half-day's cruise from Bar Harbor to Green's Landing. Off Southwest Harbor the wind proved something of a gale, as nothing in the shape of land lay between them and the open ocean, from which the wind swept in powerfully.
Although the yacht buried her starboard rail at times and fairly hissed through the water, Frank did not take a reef in a single sail, for there were no squalls, and, "corinthian" though he was, he was gaining confidence in his ability to handle the White Wings.