She did go off with a bound and a spring. Donald crowded the helm hard up, so that the Maud wore short around.
"Let off the sheet, lively, Kennedy!" said the skipper. "Ease off the jib-sheet, Mr. Norwood!"
"We shall be afoul of the Phantom!" cried Dick Adams, as he began to run out on the foot-ropes by the bowsprit.
"Lay in, Dick!" shouted Donald. "Don't go out there!"
Dick retraced his steps, and came on deck. The Phantom had not cast in the right direction, and was coming around on the starboard tack, which had very nearly produced a collision with the Maud, the two bowsprits coming within a few inches of each other.
"I was going out to fend off," said Dick, as he came aft, in obedience to orders.
"I was afraid you would be knocked off the bowsprit, which is a bad place to be, when two vessels put their noses together. It was a close shave, but we are all right now," replied the skipper.
"The Sea Foam takes the lead," added Mr. Norwood.
"She had the head end of the line. The Skylark made a good start."
"First rate," said Kennedy. "She couldn't be handled any better than she is."