The two sloops, looking very much alike, now that both flew the colors of the Hall, were soon standing up the lake in a breeze which was just sufficient to fill the sails. Each carried a party of four, and all the boys were in the best of spirits in spite of another “run in” with Pluxton Cuddle over the matter of eating.
“Jack, if you don’t mind, I’ll race you for a couple of miles!” sang out Fred, who was handling the tiller of the Ajax.
“Want to get beat again?” asked the young major, with a grin.
“No, I want to prove to you that the Ajax is just as good a sloop as the Alice.”
“All right, I’ll race if you want to. What’s the course?”
“From here to Borden’s Cove, if you don’t mind.”
“Want to capsize again?” questioned Pepper.
“No, I know enough to take in sail now,” answered Fred.
“All right!” sang out the owner of the Alice. “What’s the prize for winning?”
“A quart of baked ice-cream,” answered Fred merrily.