Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1898-12-14

T~ss Ny7H.~ .eeo Al :" see' haa hot se
@Sa registered at { h
Yacht Club.
Naturally the bunch of fellows loung
Ing on the pier head Friday morning
and lazily critlcising the regatta fee
as 1t swung at anchor, burst into inter
ested comment as long slim boat slld
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. l didn't know her
at first; look at the big topsall he's got
on her
shes been made over for this race.
l tell you, it'll take hot work for even
the 'Fleetwlng' to beat her now"
II wonder what Dave IL 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 disputng 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 minutes?'
"Thorne's here with new set Of sails
on the 'Conqueror,' blurted out Joe,
who never could keep anything long.
"Thorne!" interrupted Dave, black
look on his good-natured face. $50 he's
come after ALL
Hasn't he, thought 1t will take your
prettlest sailing to show him your
stern
Dave. slowly watching the boat as 1t
dwindled oceanward.
Nonsense, Daviem "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 old
enough to have boats, there had been a
rivalry growing up between them slow
ly changing their friendship TO enmlty,
and ending the year before in accusa-
ton and open distrust.
I'D rather have him take the cup
than think | wanted 1t bad enough TO
race him for it," said Dave, shortly.
.'Oh, fudge, then he'll think you're
afraid of him." laughed Joe, throwing
his arm over Dawes shoulder. What
you want to do is to go in and beat him
clean out of his boots; take little more
ballast II it's too windy and show him
the way home"
"Maybe,' answered the other, far
away look In his quiet blue eyes. Il
suppose 1t Is the only fair thing to do,
he said to himself as he walked home.
Better race and have it over. | only
hope this wind will shift before to
morrow" And he glanced toward the
northwest, whence merry gale piped
along.
For with all her virtues the Fleet
wing could not make time In stift
breeze. She could beat anything in q
light Southwestern with Dave at the
helm. for no man could sail Il boat as
craftily as he.
Sidney Thorne knew Dawes skill and
the "Fleetwing's" powers, too, and he
hoped as earnestly for 'reetng gale
as Dave prayed for catspaw breeze
with better luck, unhappily for Dave.
I'm afraid we're going 10 get more
of this" said Joe Scott, anxlously, as he
stood on the "Fleetwing's" deck Satur'
day morning and felt the puffy north
wind that rolled the little sloop heavily
In the trough of the waves.
"It will be dirty work getting round
the pudding stone reef in this choppy
sea-"
sIf we can make the first leg on this
breeze, I'll have the wind behind me on
the next, and It's only "A short beat home
from the second buoy answered Dave
with sort of nervous quietness
Hurry up there, Joe, never saw you
take so long"
Here. belay that, and stop your fuss
ing" retorted Joe, throwing down a
rope. You can't race this race alone
| heard Thorne saying that as this wind
would hold there was no hurry about
starting"
The hard look on Dawes face deepen
ed as he went on with his work. SO
husy were the two boys in talking thai
they did not hear their names called py
childish voices, nor see skir that was
padded past them by unskillfui little
hands.