“Let us race them, Jack,” whispered Pepper.
“No use of racing if the Alice isn’t in proper condition,” interrupted Dale.
“Oh, she’s all right—but I like to go over everything before a race,” said Jack, a bit doubtfully. “Some of the blocks work rather stiffly, and I haven’t quite got the swing of this tiller yet.”
“Want to race or not?” cried a third boy aboard the Ajax.
“Of course, if you are afraid of being beaten——” began Fred Century.
“Did you come out just for the purpose of racing?” demanded Jack.
“Why, hardly,” said the owner of the Ajax. “We just saw you, and thought you’d like a little brush, that’s all.”
“How far do you want to race?”
“As far as you please.”
“Very well, what do you say to Cat Point and from there to Borden’s Cove? The first sloop to reach the white rock at the cove is to be the winner.”