Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-10-21

tourney. Fifteen minutes later he
studied tie outline 81 tie sail ahead
and then nIuttc.el half aloud, Its
Chetsnn In the Snow Bunting
Immediately lie felt the blood mount
In. 10 his forehead. and his eyes fash
ell. The winner Of the prize was half
a mile ahead OF him and going in the
same direction. Silently the Ice King
crept up on the boat ahead, and then
Harold shouted:
"He.la. Clets1n, Let's have another
race, IL ! can't beat you this time Ill
take back all I said and thought
CEetSon turned abruptly and saw his
rival creeping upon him. His face
darkened There was no chance to
evade tile challenge.
I'm only going a few miles farther
and them
oh. we don't need more than Few
miles. I'll pass you before
These words Stung. and the Snow
Bunting was hauled IN in the path OF
the wind and given the full benert 81
fits mower. The Ice King likewise shift
Ell her course little. and the two
scudded along at a rapid pace. The
wind Lad gradually increased in the
last half hour. and both boats labored
and groaned heavily under the strain
imposed upon them.
The Snow Bunting was no inferior
craft. 1t was a worthy rival TO the Ice
King. II had been built by noted
( constructor and designer, and IL had
all the modern Improvements which
money could purchase. Harold knew
| this and had been made aware of II in
the race for the prize. But despite this
he felt that his craft could outsail her.
So it proved In a short time. Inch by
inch and foot by foot he gained on his
adversary. Buff was close and long
( race. Both navigators were warmed to
| the fray Harold had tauntlngly insin-
uated that the race for the prize had
not been a fair one. In the heat of the
moment he had said that Chetson had
/ deliberately threatened his boat TO win
the race by foul.
| All this ranked deep in the heart OF
/ ChetSon, and Harold even felt the ne
cessity of apologizing to himself for
his words. If | can't beat him now
was wrong, and I'll tell him so. But
can and Will beat him.
Faster and faster the boats few, the
wind joining In the race by adding
strength TO the power which drove
them onward. Town and village were
passed in quick succession, and still
they kept on their course. The Ice
King was a boats length behind its
rival, and there it hung on the flank OF
the Snow Bunting for two miles. Then
It crept up and gradually pushed Its
nose even with its rival.
The sun had set. and darkness was
falling over the rivers surface. but nei
Their navigator noticed the fight OF
time or the change in the landscape
They saw only each other and the
white sails bellylng out before the
breeze. Neither spoke nor changed his
position an inch.
They We're soon past all towns and
farmhouses, and the banks of the river
We're lined with dark, frowning fringes
Of woods and forests. Back from the
river as far as the eyes could see there
were broken woods, swamps and forest
clad hills.
Once or twice out Of the shadows OF
the woods dark objects appeared, ant
in subconscious way they felt rather
than saw that wolves were rushing a
them. But what fear had they FOL
wolves or any other species of wilt
animal of the woods? No four footet
creature of field or forest could eve
hope to keep pace with their yachts.
The Ice King was now making on,
Of its marvellous spurts Of speed.
lifted itself by its sails clean from tn,
Ice, and for a long distance the run
ners seemed never to touch the sur
face. Its nose shot forward one, two
three, four FIVE feet, then a dozel
feet. and in five minutes it was boa
length ahead and still increasing tn,
lead
Harold held his breath. His jubila
ton was now intense. His old animos
ity returned. He could not refrain
from turning and smiling at his cha
grined adversary. Then In tauntinJ
words he shouted: NO chance for
foul this time, Chetson! There's to,
clean a field. Smash me If you CAM
Chetson did not reply, and in tn
gloom Harold could not see his face.
The Snow Bunting was already dis
appearing in the gloom, for darkness
was all around, and 1t was impossible
to see far ahead or over the stern. Th
sail and craft described huge shape
faded away.
But almost simultaneous with he
disappearance there came a crash GU
= of the darkness and a cry of fear o
dismay. Harold hauled his boat up II
l the wind and listened. He heard
( queer noise from out of the darkness
Then he ran across the river and bacl
I again, sailing almost In the track o
the race. But the river seemed empty
and the Snow Bunting had apparent,
} disappeared. Fearful lest somethin,
: had happened, Harold shouted. Their,
was faint response, and then
,, growl and yelp of a wolf 1t was
!. blood curdling yelp, followed quickl
by another and then human cry
/. Harold trembled with excitement an
wonder. Suddenly out of the gloon
ahead he caught sight of huge. form
less object on the ice Instinctivey b
: guessed its meaning. 1t was tn
broken mast and sail of the Snoy