“It’s eight o’clock,” said Eleanor, looking at her watch. “We can start at ten. That will allow plenty of time after eating. Of course, we don’t intend to go in the water, but you never can tell–it’s squally to-day, and we might be upset. And that’s one thing I don’t believe in taking chances with. A cramp will make the best swimmer in the world perfectly helpless in the water, and about every case of cramps I ever heard of came from going in the water too soon after a meal.”
When they were aboard the Eleanor and scooting through the opening in the bar, Bessie found that the conditions were indeed very different from those of the previous afternoon. The wind had changed and become much heavier, and as the Eleanor went along, she dipped her bow continually, so that the spray rose and drenched all on board. But there was something splendidly exciting and invigorating about it, and she loved every new sensation that came to her.
“Here’s the Defiance coming out,” said Eleanor, after they had been enjoying the sport for half an hour. “Gladys must like this sort of a breeze, too.”
“She does, but she’s never had as much of it as I have,” said Dolly. “I hope she understands it well enough not to make any mistakes. A boat like this takes a good deal of handling in a heavy breeze, and it seems to me that she’s carrying a good deal of sail.”
“She seems to be getting along all right, though,” said Eleanor, after watching the Defiance for a few minutes. “Why, Dolly, I wonder what she’s doing now.”
The maneuvres of the Defiance seemed strange enough to prompt Eleanor’s question, for, no matter how Dolly tacked, the Defiance followed her, drawing nearer all the time. Since Dolly had no sort of definite purpose in mind, it was plain that Gladys was simply following her. And soon the reason was apparent.
“She’s trying to race; she wants to show that she can beat us to-day when there’s plenty of wind,” said Dolly. “If she wanted to race, why didn’t she say so?”
“Well, give her her way, Dolly,” said Eleanor. “Keep straight on now for a little while and see if she can beat you. We’re just about on even terms now.”
And on even terms they stayed. Sometimes one, sometimes the other seemed to gain a little advantage, but it was plain that the boats, as well as the skippers, were very evenly matched. Since there was no agreement to race, Dolly had the choice of courses, and in a spirit of mischief she came about frequently. And every time she changed her course Gladys followed suit.
Although the boats were often within easy hailing distance, Gladys avoided Dolly’s eyes, and nothing was said by those on either sloop. They were satisfied with the fun of this impromptu racing. But at last, when they were perhaps a mile from the opening in the bar, and very close together, Eleanor, looking at her watch, saw that it was nearly time for lunch.