Yacht.
"It is Mr. ——," said Jimmy.
"Now we shall get into a row for trespassing," said Dick.
"They have got to catch us first. If we can only dodge them, and get on to the river again, we can show them a clean pair of heels," said Frank, taking a pull at the sheet and trying to creep up to windward of the dyke. The blue yacht, however, stood by so as to meet them, and Frank saw, by the way she went through the water, even when her sails were hauled almost flat, that she could beat the Swan in sailing to windward. A gentleman stood up in the strange yacht and called out,—
"Bear, up alongside, you young rascals, and give me your names and addresses. I shall summon you for trespassing."
"Not if I know it," said Frank, bringing the Swan sharply round on her heel, and scudding away before the wind, followed by the other in full chase.
"Now, Jimmy and Dick, stand by the sheets, and when we get opposite the bottom of that long island, we will bring her sharp round the other side, and then they can't get across and meet us, and then we'll cut and run for the dyke."
They executed this manœuvre very neatly, but the other was too quick for them, and instead of following them round the island, they turned back and made for the mouth of the dyke to intercept them, and at a much better angle of the wind than that at which the Swan had to sail.
"We shall come into collision," said Jimmy, as he took a hearty pull at the mizen sheet. "We cannot both get through the dyke."
"Never mind. We'll cram her at it. Stand by with the boat-hook to push the blue 'un off, Dick!" but as Dick stood ready with the boat-hook to push off, a man stood in the other yacht with his boat-hook to pull them in, and as Dick pushed, his adversary pulled. The two boats ran alongside for a few yards, and then were jammed together at the mouth of the creek, and Mr. —— stepped on board.