“We’d better start though, I guess,” urged Grant. “The course is long and while there’s a good breeze now you can’t tell how long it will last.”
“That’s right,” agreed Mr. Maxwell. “You’d better get ready.”
The boys at once made their way to their respective boats and made the final preparations for the race. Both boats had had their sails up all the morning in order to dry them out thoroughly and there was very little left to be done.
Mr. Maxwell sat in a canoe near at hand and watched the boys.
“Remember,” he said, “twice around the course. The first lap you go one way and the second in the opposite. Be very careful to round every stake. The start is from the same spot as the canoe race and the finish is there, too. I will fire this pistol as a warning gun, and three minutes later I will fire it again for the start. Be sure not to cross the starting line before I give the second signal.”
“All right,” said Grant. “We’re all ready.”
“So are we,” echoed Thomas from the Spruce.
“Very well then,” said Mr. Maxwell. “Get your anchors up and move out by the starting line.”
This was soon done and a few moments later the two catboats were jockeying back and forth off the entrance to the little harbor. Fred was at the tiller of the Balsam and Hugh guided the Spruce.
The sharp crack of the pistol announced that the race was about to start. Grant had been waiting, watch in hand, for this signal.