“It was a fine thing to do!” Sally whispered. “But how I hate to win in such fashion!”
“Tom Evans knew he had no chance in the finals,” Penny said. “As he said, you belong there for you are one of the best sailors in the fleet.”
Sally crossed the finish line in fifth place, then sailed on to the dock by the clubhouse. As Penny leaped out to make the boat fast, willing hands assisted with the bedraggled passenger. The child was taken to the clubhouse for a change of clothes. Officials gathered about Penny and Sally, congratulating them upon the race.
“I didn’t really win,” the latter said, paying tribute to Tom Evans. “The Elf deliberately turned aside to give me a chance to pass.”
Nearby, Jack Gandiss who had won the race, stood unnoticed. After awhile he walked over to the dock where Sally and Penny were collecting their belongings.
“That was a nice rescue,” he said diffidently. “Of course it cost you second place, which was a pity.”
Sally cocked an eyebrow. “Second place?” she repeated. “Well, I like that!”
“You never could have defeated the Spindrift.”
“No? Well, if my memory serves me right, the Cat’s Paw was leading when I had to turn aside. Not that I wasn’t glad to do it.”
“You may have been ahead, but I was coming up fast. I would have overtaken you at the second marker or sooner.”