The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-12-15

Yacht Club.
Naturally the bunch Of fellows loung-
ing ON the pier head Friday morning
and lazily crlticlsing the regatta fleet
as IL swung al anchor hurst into inter
ested comment as a long slim boat slid
past them down the harbor and stood
out before the heavy wind under full
canvas
Hello. that's Thorne's boat now
isn't it, exclaimed Joe Scott. dropping |
from his seat on the rail and hurrying |
over to the other side Of the pier, with |
the boys at his heels. Yes, there's her
name. 'COnquerer' She must have
come In last night. / didn't know her
at first; look at the big topsail he's got
on her"
shes been made over for this race.
tell you. it'll take hot work for even
the 'Fleetwing' to beat her now"
II wonder what Dave II say when he
hears that his beloved rival is here
Here comes Dave now"
"Whoop. Hello. Heard the news?'
roared the half dozen voices that had
been disputlng as white hat came
slowly down the wharf.
whats the row." asked the new
conner. calmly taking seat on the rail
| beside Joe. Anything fatal happened
/ IN the last ten minutesT'
"rhorne's here with new set of sails
on the 'Conqueror. blurted out Joe,
who never could keep anything long.
"Thorner interrupted Dave. a black
look on his good-natured face. 80 he's
come after ALL
Hasn't he. though; 1t will take your
prettlest sailing TO show him your
stern
III I decide to race him." answered
Dave, slowly watching the boat as 1t
dwindled oceanward.
Nonsense. Davie!' "The idea, old
fellow" Goodness sake, man, you
wouldn't drop out for that" argued
every one at once while Joe, who was
Dawes particular chum, and dared any
thing, added: Then you'll let ThOrne
take the cup? Your two are the fastest
boats in the class"
Dave said nothing, but his mouth mar
rowed to the long, thin line the boys
knew so well.
Ever since the two had been ole
, enough to have boats. there had been d
rivalry growing up between them. slow
, ly changing their friendship to enmity
and ending the year before in accuse
r ton and open dlstrust
} I'D rather have him take the cul
| than think | wanted 1t bad enough t
. race him for it, said Dave, shortly.
4 "Oh, fudge. then he'll think your
5 afraid of him." laughed Joe, throwing
his arm over Dawes shoulder. "Wha
you want to do is to go In and beat hin
clean out of his boots; take little NOR
y ballast IL it's too windy and show hin
y the way home"
|, maybe" answered the other, fan
e away look in his quiet blue eyes.
d suppose 1t Is the only fair thing to do,
he said to himself as he walked hOm'
Better race and have it over. onl
hope this wind will shift before t
morrow" And he glanced toward til
!" northwest, whence merry gale pipe
along.
For with all her virtues the "Flee
wing could not make time In sti
breeze. She could beat anything in
light Southwestern with Dave at IL
helm. for no man could sail boat |
craftily as he.
Sidney Thorne knew Dawes skill ar
the "Fleetwing's" powers, too, and
ID hoped as earnestly for a ''reeting gall
L. as Dave prayed for catspaw breez
70 with better luck, unhappily for Dave.
I'm afraid we're going to get mo
\. of this" said Joe Scott, anxiously, as
stood on the "Fleetwing's" deck Satr
If day morning and felt the puffy nor
or wind that rolled the little sloop heavi
: In the trough of the waves.
ut will be dirty work getting rou
the pudding stone reef IN this chop
q sea-"
~. IF we can make the first leg on Il
90. breeze, Ill have the wind behind me
the next, and It's only n short beat hol
from the second buoy" answered Da
RS with a sort Of nervous quletne
n Hurry up there, Joe, | never saw
N. take SO long"
Here, Delay that. and stop your FLU
Ing" retorted Joe, throwing down
% rope. You can't race this race alo
an heard Thorne saying that as this w
would hold there was no hurry abb
. starting"
The hard look on Dawes face deep
ed as he went on with his work.
busy were the two boys in talking t
they did not hear their names called
any childish voices. nor see sklff that ,
ont padded past them by unsklllful Ii
ave hands.
rsa- "Thorne isn't going to have an e
nds time taking care Of that topsail of h
0% no remarked Joe, looking up from the
yard he was hauling in.
Say. Joe, let Thorne take care
himself: we've got all We can dc
la manage right here; just run forr
!, and keep her off the pier, will 70
- answered Dave, in a, tone that M
ton his mate lift his eyebrows and viii
silently.
lex, Funny how mad fighting will II
pss man." he said TO himself, as /
snapped out orders TO the boys ms
e al tumhled on board from the pier W
oils, they had been waiting
lour. Dave was In a fighting mood.
and felt his boat tugging TO get away.
vder. he saw the ''Conqueror' wiggiing a
~ all behind him as Thorne tried to 3,
windward at the starting line. :
he ordered quickly. I'm going TO
U. up on the wlndward ofThorne; be I
with the sheet. You fellows bailas
EET now. All ready. It's going TO he
sailing all the way he said TO hin
..,.. % .,r .,,atbar thn hOntg Slid