The Merle dipped her ensign, and the Englishman returned the salute in kind.
"I say," cried Jerry, "they're setting their topsail. They want a race in earnest."
"They've an able boat, to carry all sail when it's breezed up like this," commented Jack, giving the black yawl a critical look.
"Come!" urged Tab. "Let's take a brace and give 'em a run for their money. We can beat 'em all right enough, both sides of the Atlantic."
Jack looked first at Katrine and then at her aunt.
"Would you mind?" he asked.
"Mind?" cried Mrs. Fairhew, "I shouldn't mind it the least in the world—especially if we beat them."
"All right," shouted Tab, leaping boyishly out of his wicker chair. "We'll show 'em! Watch along!" he roared to the crew.
"Sway up on the main-peak halyards there," sang out Jack, who had also started up quickly. "That's good! Fore-peak now—that'll do! Set fore-topsail there—haul away! Good enough! All hands up to windward!" Then he turned to the helmsman. "I'll take her," he said. "You get up to windward with the rest."