The Alice was a truly beautiful sloop, with graceful lines. Her hull was finely painted and her sails were of snowy whiteness. The Ajax, too, was a good boat, and the youthful owners were justly proud of the two craft.
On the Saturday afternoon previous to the time for the encampment Jack and Fred made up their parties for a sail. The young major carried Pepper, Andy and four others, and the Ajax took on an even greater load. It was decided to go up the lake, and the cadets received permission to remain out from two o’clock to six.
There was a favorable wind blowing, and a cheer went up when the two sloops spread their canvases and stood up the lake shore. Jack and Fred were at the tillers and each handled his craft with care and skill.
“Going to race?” asked one of the cadets, of Fred.
“No, we are just out for the pleasure of it,” said Fred. He knew his boat was a good one, but the young major had beaten him before and he did not, just then, wish to risk another defeat.
Soon the sloops were well on their way up the lake. Pepper and Andy were in particularly good humor, and neither of them dreamed of the remarkable adventure in store for them.
CHAPTER VIII
A REMARKABLE ADVENTURE
“It looks like rain!”
The remark came from Andy, who was in the bow of the boat. He was gazing anxiously at the sky.
“Don’t say rain!” cried Stuffer, who was eating a banana, one of a hand purchased at the Cedarville dock. “I don’t like to be out in the rain.”