Part 24 (1/2)

”Now you fellows belong to the crew!” cried Frank Lee.

”All right, we'll help you beat the Spray,” returned Jerry, quickly.

The captain overheard the remark and turned to Harry:

”Would you really like to remain on board during the race?”

”Indeed we would!” said Harry. ”And we'll do duty, too, same as the rest of the crew, if you'll only keep us. You know both of us understand all about a regular yacht.”

”Well, you can stay. I am short one man, and two boys ought to more than make up for him.”

Perhaps Jerry and Harry were not delighted? They sent word to Jack Broxton, and then made themselves familiar with the great yacht, the pride of all on board.

Soon it was time to up anchor and make for the starting point. Jerry and Harry worked manfully at the ropes, and so did Frank Lee. No one is allowed to remain idle on a racing yacht. The least one can do is to rush to this side or that and thus make ”ballast.”

”All ready!” came the word, and the signal was given to start, and the Defender and the Spray were off.

Presently Jerry came over to the captain, who was at the wheel.

”Can we pa.s.s the Spray?” he asked, anxiously.

”We can try, Upton,” was the reply. ”Can you take the wheel for a minute.

I must have a drink of water.”

”Aye, aye, sir,” said Jerry.

How proudly he took hold of the wheel! He was for the time being in absolute command of the Defender.

An extra breeze sprang up. They were sailing almost side by side with the Spray. Suddenly the Defender shot ahead. Our hero stuck to the wheel, while Harry and Frank Lee did their full share of work with the rest of the crew.

The Defender was ahead, but the race was not yet over.

CHAPTER XX.

THE MISHAP TO THE YACHT.

The young oarsman was not allowed to remain at the wheel long. Soon the captain of the Defender came up again and took charge.

”I see we have pa.s.sed 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.