The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-08-13
THE SLOOP CUP.
Nv Sears.

ed at the Yacht club.
Naturally the bunch of fellows loung-
Ing on the pier head Friday morning
and lazily criticizing the regatta fleet
as 1t swung at anchor, burst 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. Eyes, there's her
name, C%onqueror. She must have come
in last night. l didn't know her at
first; look at the big topsail he's got
on her."
She's 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'll 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 disputing as a white hat came
slowly down the wharf.
whats the row." asked the new
conner, calmly taking a seat on the rail
beside Joe. Anything fatal happened
in the last ten minutes?"
"Thorne's here with a new set of
sails on the ~Conqueror," blurted out
Joe, who lever could keep anything
long.
"Thorne!" interrupted Dave, a 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"
eff l decide to race him." answered
Dave, slowly watching the boat as it
dwindled oceanward.
Nonsense, Davie!" 1.-THE idea, old
fellow" Goodness sake, man, you
wouldn't drop out for that" argued ev-
cry 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 fast
est boats in the class"
Dave said nothing, but his mouth
iol GU W IlS lOuS, I'LL lll6 LuG DUyS
knew so well.
Ever since the two had been old
enough to have boats, there had been
a rivalry growing up between them,
slowly changing their friendship to en-
nifty, and ending the year before in
accusation and open distrust.
I'D rather have him take the cup
than think I 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 over Dawes shoulder. What
you want to do is to go In and beat him
clean out Of his boots; take a little
more ballast if it's too windy and show
him the way home"
Maybe" answered the other, a far
away look in his quiet blue eyes. 81
suppose it is the only fair thing to do"
he said to himself as he walked home.
Better race and have it over. 1 only
hope this wind will shift before tomor-
row." And he glanced toward the
northwest, whence a merry gale piped
along.
For with all her virtues the Fleet
wing could not make time in a 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, toe, and
he hoped as earnestly for a "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, a%nxiously, 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-"
IF 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 a sort of nervous quietness.
Hurry up there, Joe, I eve saw you
take SO long"
Here, Delay that and stop your fuss
Ing" retorted Joe, throwing down a
rope. "You can't race this race alone;
I heard Thorne saying that as this wind
would hold there was no hurry about
starting.
The hard look on Dawes face deep
ened as he went or with his work. So
busy were the two boys in talking that
they did not hear their names called by
childish voices, MOI see a skiff that was
padded past them by unskillful little
hands.
"Thorne isn't going to have an easy
time taking care of that topsail of his, u
remarked Joe, looking up from the hal
yard he was hauling in.
"Say, Joe, let Thorne take care OF
himself; we've got all we can do to
manage right here; just run forrard
and keep her off the pier, will your
answered Dave, in a tone that made his
mate lift his eyebrows and whistle ST.
lently.
Funny how mad fighting will make
a man." he said to himself, as Dave
snapped out orders to the boys as they
tumbled on board from the pier where
they had been waiting.
Dave was in a fighting mood. He
felt his boat Juggling to get away, and
he saw the C%onqueror wiggling along
behind him as Thorne tried to get wind
ward at the starting line. "Joe," he
ordered quickly, I'm going to gybe up
on the windward of Thorne: be ready