THE RACE
A mid-afternoon sun beat down upon the wharves as a group of sailboats tacked slowly toward the starting line for the annual Hat Island trophy race. The shores were lined with spectators, and from the clubhouse where a band played, music carried over the water.
At the tiller of the Cat's Paw, Penny, in white blouse and slacks, hair bound tightly to keep it from blowing, sat nervous and tense. Sally, lounging on a cushion in the bow, seemed thoroughly relaxed. Though her arms remained in bandages, otherwise she had completely recovered from her unpleasant experience.
"Isn't the wind dying?" Penny asked anxiously. "Oh, Sally, I was hoping we'd have a good stiff breeze for the race! Handicapped as we are--"
"We're not handicapped," Sally corrected. "Of course, I can't handle the ropes or do much to help, but we have a wonderful boat that will prove more than a match for Jack's Spindrift."
"You're only saying that to give me confidence."
"No, I'm not," Sally denied, turning to study the group of racing boats. "We'll win the trophy! Just wait and see."
"If we do, it will be because of your brain and my brawn," Penny chuckled. "I'll admit I'm scared silly. I never was in an important race before."
Conversation ceased, for the boats now were bunching close to the starting line, maneuvering for position. Jack drifted by in the Spindrift, raising his hand in friendly greeting. As he passed, he actually glanced anxiously toward Sally, as if worried lest the girl overtax herself.
"I hope he doesn't try to throw the race just to be gallant," Penny thought. "But I don't believe he will, for then the victory would be a hollow one."
The change apparent in Jack so amazed Penny that she had to pinch herself to realize it was true. Since the night of the fire, he had visited Sally every day. In a brief span of hours, he had grown from a selfish, arrogant youth into a steady, dependable man. And it now was evident to everyone that he liked Sally in more than a friendly way.
"Better come about now, Penny," Sally broke in upon her thoughts. "Head for the starting line. The signal should be given any minute now."
The boats started in a close, tight group. Jack was over the line first, but with Cat's Paw directly behind.
In the first leg of the race, the two boats kept fairly even, with the others lagging. As the initial marker was rounded, there was a noticeable fall-off in the wind.
"It's going to be a drifting race," Sally confirmed, raising troubled eyes to the wrinkled sail. "We're barely drawing now and Jack's boat has the edge in a calm."
The Spindrift skimmed merrily along, now in the lead by many yards. Though Penny held the tiller delicately, taking advantage of every breath of wind, the distance between the two boats rapidly increased.
"We're out of it," she sighed. "We can't hope to overtake Jack now."
Sally nodded gloomily. Shading her eyes against the glare of the sun, she gazed across the river, studying the triangular course. Far off-shore, well beyond the line the Spindrift and their own boat was taking, the surface of the water appeared rippled. Ahead of them there was only a smooth surface.
"Penny," she said quietly. "I believe there's more breeze out there."
Penny nodded and headed the Cat's Paw on the longer course out into the river. To many spectators ashore it appeared that the girls deliberately had abandoned the race, but aboard the River Queen, Captain Barker grinned proudly at his guests, Mr. Parker, and Mr. and Mrs. Gandiss.
"Those gals are using their heads!" he praised. "Well, Mr. Gandiss, it looks as if the Barkers will keep the trophy another year!"
"The race isn't over yet," Mr. Gandiss rumbled goodnaturedly.
Aboard the Cat's Paw, Penny and Sally were none too jubilant. Although sails curved with wind and they were footing much faster than the other boats, the course they had chosen would force them to sail a much longer distance. Could they cross the finish line ahead of the Spindrift?
