“I see we have passed the Spray,” he said. “That’s a good one for you, Upton. Now we must keep ahead.”
After turning the wheel over to the captain, Jerry moved forward to where Harry and Frank Lee were standing.
In the meanwhile the gallant yacht was cutting the water like a razor. The breeze was stiff, and they were running free before it. Soon the Spray was almost out of sight behind them.
“This Defender is a great boat,” said Harry.
With the wind on the starboard quarter the Defender and the Spray reached along for over a mile at a six knots an hour gait.
“I would like to see another stiff breeze.”
“We may catch more than enough before we have finished,” put in Frank Lee.
The further on the two yachts went the lighter became the wind, and each in turn ran into “soft” spots, when balloon top-sails hung up and down idly.
But no matter how the wind came the Defender got along, leaving the Spray steadily behind.
It was a triangular course, of three miles to each side, and soon the first side was sailed.
The yachts wore around the first mark float, leaving it on the port hand.
Baby jib top-sails had been sent down before the rounding, and spinnaker poles were now ready for the balloon sail.
With booms well off to port, the Defender led the way to the second stretch.
Sharp work was done in handling the spinnaker, for just one minute after rounding this big balloon was set and pulling.
This was clever work, but the Spray sailors did fully as well, for they had their spinnaker on just as fast.
“Great Caesar!” ejaculated our hero, suddenly, “Look!”
Ashore the sky grew black and ominous, foreboding a coming squall.
The weather certainly looked bad, and it turned out worse than it looked.
Instead of wind, rain came on, and soon all on board the yachts were soaked.
“What do you think of that, Jerry?” asked Harry.
“We’re going to catch it and no mistake,” replied the young oarsman.
All hands on board saw the coming squall and looked at the captain for orders, but none came.
The yachts, favored by a strengthening breeze, were pushed on to meet that which was sure to come, and half-way over on the third stretch it came on hard and struck the Defender.
Bang! slash! went the sails and the gallant yacht swept well over on her side.