“The race isn’t until Friday,” Jack said encouragingly. “You can make it, Sally.”
The girl pulled herself to a sitting posture, staring at her bandaged hands.
“Yes, I can,” she agreed with quiet finality. “Why, I feel better already. Even if I have to be carried to the dock in a wheel chair, I’ll be in that race!”
CHAPTER
25
THE RACE
A mid-afternoon sun beat down upon the wharves as a group of sailboats tacked slowly toward the starting line for the annual Hat Island trophy race. The shores were lined with spectators, and from the clubhouse where a band played, music carried over the water.
At the tiller of the Cat’s Paw, Penny, in white blouse and slacks, hair bound tightly to keep it from blowing, sat nervous and tense. Sally, lounging on a cushion in the bow, seemed thoroughly relaxed. Though her arms remained in bandages, otherwise she had completely recovered from her unpleasant experience.
“Isn’t the wind dying?” Penny asked anxiously. “Oh, Sally, I was hoping we’d have a good stiff breeze for the race! Handicapped as we are—”
“We’re not handicapped,” Sally corrected. “Of course, I can’t handle the ropes or do much to help, but we have a wonderful boat that will prove more than a match for Jack’s Spindrift.”
“You’re only saying that to give me confidence.”
“No, I’m not,” Sally denied, turning to study the group of racing boats. “We’ll win the trophy! Just wait and see.”