The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-12-04

while Agnes and Harold are warm
friends, they would never agree on the
relative speed and other qualities Of
their two boats.
mo actual test had ever been made,
for they did not care to have a regu-s
lar race; theyerather shrunk from the
publicity that a race would give them.
But one day in July an opportunity
occurred that neither felt disposed to
decline, and SO they at last matched
their little crafts against each other.
1T happened more by accident than
design. Harold had gone out early in
the morning for a sail around the in
let, taking with him only one of his
friends, Sam Colston. Two hours later
Agnes took her boat out, with her
younger sister, Bertha, as her compan-
ion. This was nothing unusual, for
Agnes is so good a sailor that no n
ever thought Of forbidding her to go
ever alone, if she so desired.
"The girls had not been out long
when they saw Harold's boat just turn
ing the point of a pretty green, reed
grown island On the western side of
the inlet. There was a brisk wind
from the south, and the Ariel was feel
ing it's full force as she rounded the
island and turned her PROV toward the
north, where the broad unbroken body
of water stretched out before her.
"It happened that Agnes boat was
headed in the same direction, and as
they were now fairly abreast of each
other, though still some distance apart.
the conditions for a trial of speed were
almost irresistible. In fact, they were
irresistible, for Harold presently stood
up in the stern Of the Ariel and waved
his handkerchief in a challenging man
ner at the young sailor of the Sprite.
agnes could not stand that, and she
lost not a seconds time in waving def
ance at the Ariel.
"'Why, Agnes said her sister in
surprise, are you going to race with
Harold Graham? Oh, but I'm glad! I
know we'll beat him!
CT am going to try, at any rate an
swered Agnes, and settle, once for all,
which is the faster boat, or which is the
better sailor, as you please
"And SO the long-deferred race was
on at last. Circumstances seemed to
have brought it, and nov that it was
here neither of the contestants cared to
avoid it; both were confident of victory.
1T was a beautiful sight. The dark
blue water was f1ecke6 all over it's sur
face with little foam-caps that were
raised by the sweet south wind. For
more than a mile toward the north the
course extended, with 40 obstruction of
any kind, not even O. fisherman's boat
being in view. On each side of them
were little islands with their reed
grown banks reaching clear down to
the waters edge, thus looking like big
emeralds that had been dropped upon
the sapphire bosom of the inlet. And
over all was the glorious light Of a
cloudless, sun-lit sky, touching every
thing with beauty and beaming life.
cover such a course sped the two
pretty boats, their prows cutting the
water and sending the spray back
along their glistening keels.
"The boats had now approached
within talking distance of each other,
and each young sailor was bantering
the other, but all the while intent upon
the progress of the race. And as they
talked they steered closer and closer
to each other, until finally the two
boats might have been covered with
n big sheet.
Realizing the danger of sailing so
close together, Harold said that he
would sheer off toward the west, warn
ing Agnes of his intended movement.
She turned quickly, looked toward him,
lost her grip Of the tiller, and before
she could regain it or could realize