“Hurrah!” cried Bee. “Hit her up, Jack!”
The Crystal Spring dug her nose and pushed the water aside while the engine hummed louder and faster. No one could liken the sloop’s progress to the flight of an arrow, but what she lacked in grace she made up for in power, and by the time she was half-way to Gull Island she was slapping off a good seven miles! And just as they reached the inner end of the island a buff cat-rigged boat under power hurried forth from the basin.
“There she is!” whispered Hal. “Can you beat her, Jack?”
“Watch me,” answered Jack with a grim smile.
The Morning Star had something of a start and her engine was buzzing and her exhaust popping for all they were worth. But foot by foot the old Crystal Spring gained as they swept by the wharves. Along the string-pieces idlers, sunning themselves, saw the race and shouted them on. The government boat was slowing down to drop her anchor now.
“Open her up just a tiny bit more, Hal,” directed Jack softly. Hal touched the throttle lever gently and the engine purred more quickly. Then the bow of the sloop was even with the stern of her rival and the Lampron brothers, gazing across, scowled angrily. Faster now the Crystal Spring swept through the water. The Morning Star no longer led; the sloop was even with her. And now the Crystal Spring was actually drawing away; there was clear water between them!
A little farther the Morning Star held on, then the helm went over and the rival water boat swung off her course, accepting defeat. In the bow, at the wheel, Tony Lampron gazed after the Crystal Spring and shook his fist. Jack, seeing, smiled and seized a small megaphone from its rack. As the Morning Star headed back toward the basin Jack put the megaphone to his mouth.
“Where you been some time, Mister?” he shouted.
THE END.