“We are sure holding our own, Harry!” exclaimed Paul, delightedly.
That was an experience new to him; for up to now the Glider had mocked all efforts to equal her extraordinary speed. But Harry knew that, as yet, he had not put the new boat to her “best licks,” as he termed it. She was capable of better things.
This was just the time and opportunity for one who knew all about the tricks which an iceboat is capable of developing, to coax her to show her fine points; and that was what Harry was now starting to do.
Perhaps the boats were about equal in merit. Possibly, had the crews been reversed, Harry and Paul could have overtaken the Lightning, given time with the older craft. In other words, it was a case of superior knowledge and ability on the part of the skipper of the Lightning, rather than the possession of a better boat; for the Glider was certainly what she had always been called, a “marvel.”
“Wow! we’re gaining, I do believe, Harry!” announced Paul, a minute later; and there was a touch of actual doubt in his voice, as though the fact might be almost too good to be true.
“Are we?” answered his chum, just as though it were nothing more than he had been expecting right along.
“Yes, as sure as anything we must be,” Paul went on excitedly. “I’m trying to judge distances with my eye; and honest now, I believe we’re not so far behind as when we first passed the mouth of the Cranberry! Oh! it’s great! Keep her moving just as she is, Harry! Do you think you can? That wasn’t only a spurt, I hope!”
“She can do even better than that, Paul. Watch me now, for I’m on to a new little dodge. Keep an eye for blow-holes, and branches frozen in the ice. And Paul, shift your weight just a trifle this way. I believe the balance will be more even.”
Another short interval followed. Then Paul gave vent to his delight again.
“You did something then that just made her hump herself. Why, Harry, we’re clawing up on the old Glider hand over fist! Look at ’em moving around, will you? They’re getting scared, that’s what! Elmer never yet saw another boat creeping up after him when he was doing his level best to fly. Bully! Bully! Oh, ain’t we just humming along, though!”