Part 17 (1/2)

”Are you going to run for Burlington, Dory?” asked Corny.

”We are headed in that direction now,” replied the skipper.

”But the steamer does not change her course,” continued Corny.

”And she won't change her course until we have gone a couple of miles farther to the southward. They are getting smart on board of the Missisquoi,” added Dory, like one who is driving a winning horse.

All hands watched the steamer very closely, and Corny would have given something handsome to have it made out that Dory was mistaken in his calculations. He was loyal to the skipper, but he did not like to have statements of the latter prove true every time. The steamer did not change her course, but she did not seem to get ahead very fast.

In half an hour the Goldwing was off Colchester Reef Light. The Missisquoi was still headed to the west; and Corny was beginning to feel triumphant, though he was not confident enough to say much. The steamer was three miles distant; but Dory was satisfied by this time that she had stopped her propeller, and was only waiting for the schooner to get a little farther to the southward, where she could not dodge in among the dangerous rocks.

”She is coming about!” shouted Thad.

”It is about time for her to do something,” replied Dory. ”But she is not coming down this way.”

”How do you know she isn't, Dory Dornwood?” demanded Corny, who was rather indignant when the skipper made another prediction.

”I think I understand her little game,” answered Dory mildly; for he felt that he could afford to disregard the sharp tones of Corny.

”Where is she going?” asked Corny, wis.h.i.+ng to make the skipper commit himself fully.

”She is going to the eastward,” replied Dory without any hesitation; for it was all a plain case to him.

”How do you know she is, Dory?” demanded Corny. ”She is still turning; and she isn't headed any way yet.”

”I think it is easy enough to see what she is about, Corny. Can't you see it with your eyes shut?”

”No: I'm sure I can't; and I don't believe you can, Dory Dornwood,”

added Corny.

”She is now just as far west of Champion Rock as we are south of it. She is going to the eastward, so as to cut us off if we try to reach the ledges again. I think she has got her course now.”

It was plain enough to all the members of the Goldwing Club, that, as they could see the whole of the starboard side of the Missisquoi, she was headed to the eastward. Corny gave it up when he saw that he could hold out no longer. From the smoke that poured out of the smoke-stack of the little steamer, it was plain that she was crowded to her best speed.

”She is in a hurry now,” said the skipper, laughing.

”She is going to do a big thing now,” added Thad. ”She is going to catch us, sure.”

”But I think we had better be doing something,” continued the skipper, as he put the Goldwing before the wind.

”What are you going to do now, Dory?” asked Corny.

”That will depend upon circ.u.mstances,” replied Dory, who suddenly appeared to be disposed to keep his own counsel.

As soon as the schooner was up with the light-house, the skipper hauled in his sheets again, and headed the Goldwing to the north-east. This course seemed to bother the steamer, for it made it evident that the boat did not intend to go near Champion Rock.

”She's after you again,” said Corny a few minutes later. ”She has altered her course, and is coming down this way to head you off.”