“Now,” he cried, and barely the fraction of a second behind his voice came the sound of the starting gun. Almost simultaneously the Balsam crossed the line; away to a splendid start and with a good lead of at least fifteen or twenty feet on the Spruce.
CHAPTER XX—GEORGE SURPRISES HIS FRIENDS
“I take it all back, Grant,” exclaimed John. “You’re all right.”
“It was certainly close though,” said Fred solemnly.
“But ‘close’ doesn’t count in any game, you know,” laughed Grant.
“How about quoits?” inquired George.
“That’s right, Pop,” exclaimed Grant, “it does count in quoits, but I don’t know of any other.”
“We’d better attend to our sailing,” warned Fred. “Trim that sheet in a little, String.”