The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-12-17

Naturally the bunch of fellows loung-
ing on the pier head Friday morning
and lazily criticlsing the regatta feet
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 Thornes boat now.
isn't itY 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. I didn't know her
at first; look at the big topsail he's got
on her"
'She's been made over for this race.
j tell you, it'll take hot work for even
the 'Fleetwing' to beat her now"
81 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 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 never could keep anything long.
''ThorneT 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"
IF l decide to race him." answered
Dave. slowly watching the boat as it
dwindled oceanward
Nonsense, Daviev' "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'n 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 enmity.
and ending the year before in accusa-
ton and open distrust.
''Pd rather have him take the cup
than think l wanted it bad enough to
race him for it," said Dave, shortly.
'Oh, fudge. then he'll think you're
,f
his arm over Dawes shoulder. what
you want to do is to 20 in and beat him
clean out of his boots; take little more
ballast If it's too windy and show him
the way home"
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-
morrow" 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 "Fleetwings" powers, too. and he
hoped as earnestly for freezing 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. anxiously, as he
stood on the "Fleetwlng's" deck Satur-
day morning and felt the puffy north
wind that rolled the little sloop heavily
Sn the trough of the waves.
cit 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 sho TT beat home
from the second buoy" answered Dave,
with a sort of nervous quietness.
Hurry up there, Joe, l never 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;
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
busy were the two boys in talking that
they did not hear their names called by
childish voices, nor see a skiff that was
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