Mower County transcript., 1898-09-21
THE SLOOp CUP.
BY BALDWIN SEARS.

II WAS only two days before the
Bayhead regatta, and up to three
o'clock, Thursday afternoon the one
rival to Dave Garrison g "F1eetwing,"
that everyone wanted to see, had not
yet registered at the yacht club. p.
Naturally the bunch of fellows loung-
ing on the pier head Friday morning
and lazily criticising the regatta fleet
as it swung at anchor, burst into In
terested comment as 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, drop
ping from his seat on the rail and hur-
rying over to the other side Of the pier,
with the boys at his heels. Eyes, there's
her name, 'Conqueror.' She must have
come in last night. didn't know her
at first, look atcthe big topsail he's got
on her" Z :.,-.f &t<..t
"She's been made over for this race.
I.tell you, It'll take hot work for even
the 'Fleetwing' to beat her now
II wonder what Dave'll say when. he
hears that his beloved rival is here?"
"Here comes Dave now"
''Whoopl Hello! Heard the news?"
roared the half dozen voices that had
been disputing 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 sail,
on the 'Conqueror,'" blurted out Joe.
who never could keep anything long.
"Thorpel" interrupted Dave, black
look on his good-natured face. $50 he's
come, after ALL"
Hasn't he, though: it will take your
prettiest sailing to show him your
stern"
IF decide to race him." answered
Dave, slowly, watching the boat as it
dwindled oceanwarG.
Nonsense. Davie!" "The idea, old
fellow" Goodness sake. man, you
wouldn't drop out for that" argued
everyone at once. while Joe. who was
Dawes particular chum. and dared any
thing, added: 'Then you'll let Therne
take the cup? Your two are the fast
est boats in the class"
Ever since the two had been old
enough to have boats, there had been
a rivalry growing up between them,
e14 nho h4s~ f~;o %~
enmity, and ending the year before in
accusation and open distrust.
I'D rather have him take the cup
than think wanted it 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 evsr Days shoulder. What
you want TO do Is 70 60 In and beat
him clean out of his boots; take q
little more ballast II it's too windy
and show him the way homeF
Maybe" answered the other, far
away look in his quiet blue eyes. Il
suppose it is the only fair thing to do,"
he said to himself as he walked home.
"Better race and have it over. l only
hope this wind will shift before to-mor-
row." And he glanced toward the
northwest, whence q merry gale piped
along.
For with all her virtues the "Fleet-
wing" could not make time in stiff
breeze. She could beat anything in a
light Southwestern with Dave at the
helm, for no man could sail a boat as
craftily as he.
Sidney Thorne knew Dawes skill and
the "Fleetwing's" powers, too, and he
hoped as earnestly for "reefng gale"
as Dave, prayed for a catspaw breeze,
with better luck, unhappily for Dave.
''I'm afraid we're going to get more
of this" said Joe Scott, anxicusly. as
he stood on the "Fleetwing's" deck
Saturday morning and felt the puffy
north wind that rolled the little sloop
heavily in the trough of the waves.
1t will be dirty work getting round
the pudding stone reef in this choppy
sea-"
If we can make the first leg on this
breeze, I'll have the wind behind me on
the next. and It's only short beat
home from the second buoy" answered
Dave. with a sort of nervous quletness.
Hurry up there, Joe, never saw you
take so long"
Dave was in fighting mood. He
felt his boat tugging to get away, and
he saw. the Conqueror wiggling along
behind him aserhorne tried to get to
windward at the starting. Joe" he
ordered quickly. '1'm going to gybe
up on the windward of Thorne; be
ready with the sheet, You fellows bal
last her now. All ready. It's going to
be close sailing all the way" he said
to himself, as one after another the
boats slid over the line, Conqueror and
Fleetwing side by side. b r..S Il
Closer sailing than he thought even.
In spite of the Fleetwing's promising
start and the master hand on her
wheel, the lee rail sank under water
and the white sails, swelling like a
swans breast, strained in vain to keep
ahead of the sblack-hulled boat that
was using all the wind it's sails could
find. s-@-ae s~s. ,.@ T.
Thov xrora all A.