In a little while she passed out of the river into the lake. The wind was now about south-west, and this is always a rather unsteady breeze. As she came to the point at the mouth of the river, the sheets were started, and the schooner went off with the wind on the port-quarter. As the day advanced, the breeze had freshened, till the students had all they wanted. It came over miles of open lake, and there was nothing to obstruct it. The Lily seemed to fly on her course, and the boys were excited to a degree which made them quite noisy. After the sails had been trimmed, there was nothing for them to do except to watch the motion of the vessel.
Captain Gildrock carried his watch in his hand, and had noted the second when the schooner passed the point at the mouth of the river. It was exactly three miles to the headland just beyond the light at Split Rock Point. Dory told his fellow-quartermaster, that the speed of the Lily could not be much less than that of the Sylph when she had a good breeze. She was up with the point ahead before any one had had time to do much thinking over the matter.
"Fifteen minutes from the mouth of the river to Split Rock Point!" exclaimed the principal, looking at his watch.
"Twelve knots an hour!" exclaimed Captain Randolph.
"Not quite," added the principal. "The distances on the lake are given in statute miles. It is only about two and half nautical miles from point to point, and that is only ten knots an hour, which I call very fast sailing."
The principal gave the speed to the rest of the students, and then explained the difference between nautical and statute miles.
"The Lily will do better than that yet," said Captain Randolph, "for we have not hurried her; and, with the gaff-topsails, I think she will be good for twelve knots an hour."
The principal assented to the proposition.