The boys in the Mischief did not stop. Hazel took the engine and
Bess the wheel, realizing that Cora meant for them to finish.
Presently she came up with the child in her arms!
"Go it, girls!" she called, "Win! Win!"
The Mischief was close alongside. Cora was clinging to the side of the boat from which the child had dropped, while the almost fainting mother was recovering her little one. The others assisted Cora in, and forgot all about her race.
But Cora stood spellbound in the cockpit, dripping wet. She stood there ignoring the thanks poured out on her.
"Steady, Hazel!" she called. "Win—win for me!"
That was enough. The motor girls, those in the Petrel, realizing that their leader was safe, now determined to "win for her."
The Mischief had gained in the time that Cora swung overboard, and now was just abreast of the Petrel. The slight change of course also told in the last few yards, but now Hazel and Bess forgot everything but the call of Cora to win, and their boat, like a flash, sprang up to its opponent and passed it by the closest record made in any of the races.
"Hurrah! Hurrah!" rang out in their ears.
"A double victory!" shouted one of the judges. Then the Petrel was turned back to get Cora who was in the other motor boat.