Cora spun the flywheel, and the boat took its place. She looked every inch a girl to win, while Hazel kept close to the steering wheel and the twins did their part in just looking pretty. The motor girls' boat was the cynosure of every eye, as it happened to be the only boat in that class run by girls.
The signal was given and they started off.
"Steady!" Jack called. "Go it, sis!"
He should hardly have done this, but his boyish love for the girls and their boat could not be restrained. Then they waved, and the maroon and white flag stood out tense and defiant like some animate thing.
Not a word was spoken by the girls. It seemed so important to pay all attention to the machine upon which depended the loss or gain of a victory—if we may say that a victory can be lost.
"Look out!" called Hazel suddenly and a boat crossed their path so closely that Cora was obliged to throttle down, and Hazel had to run straight for a buoy to avoid a collision, and the craft hit the course marker. Then the Petrel stopped short! It simply wouldn't move!
"Oh!" sighed Belle and Bess in one voice, but Cora jumped up and tried for a spark. None came!
She looked at the connections. They seemed all right.
"Maybe it's in the gas," she said nervously, while the other boats were passing them by.
She yanked down the bulkhead board that hid the gasoline tank. Then she saw the cause of the trouble.