"There is not a boat on the lake that can fairly beat the Peter Pan," Hazel declared almost feverishly, for the others were threatening to do so. "I have heard Paul say so."
"He ought to know," said Cora with a sly wink, "but that big tub, the Hague, is something new. Perhaps it has the power of a destroyer."
"It is big and clumsy enough to have any sort of power," remarked
Belle. "I should just be sick if it did win."
"All's fair, in a fair race," remarked Cora. "See the Hague is ahead!"
One more course was to be made, and every eye and every mind was centered on this, the final test.
The Peter Pan shot out bravely and safely. The Sprint made a splendid second! Then the Hague! Something seemed wrong. It was "missing." That could plainly be heard from the girl's boat. Away they flew, yard after yard being made in wonderfully short time. The Sprint was doing well with the Peter Pan. The Hague suddenly shot forward, passed every thing—passed the Sprint—passed the Peter Pan and won!
"Hurrah for the tub!" yelled the crowd. "Hurrah for home talent!" shouted the throng. But the young lady in the Sprint throttled down and her boat drifted over to the boys.
"How was that?" she asked breathlessly.
"I don't know," replied Paul "but I'm going to find out. We were second and you made a splendid run—but I'm going to look into the glories of the Tub!"
So keen was the disappointment of the girls in the Petrel that they seem to have lost heart for their own race, which came next. But when Ed and Jack called out to them, and Paul waved his cap in his own quiet way, the encouragement dispelled their lost of interest.