The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-11-29

new masT by an additional width of
sacking. when the boys saw the pro
noted scOw plunging about under its
gr0tesIue spread of patchwork they
appreciatively and waved his old cap
in acknowledgment.
Far OFF in the west Il ragged line of
black clouds could be seen creeping
slowly above the trees. but the boys
scarcely noticed. The few who glanced
that way looked rather pleased than
otherwise. The chance of Il wettng
does not discomfort Il boy. and. besides.
the clouds promised the continuance Of
the stiff breeze.
Colonel Freeman'S cottage overlooked
the pond, and his bOathOuSe was the
wonder and admiration OF all the boys.
1t was large enough to accommodate
seven or eight boats. and upstairs
room was being fitted up for the club
Every boy who had become member
was already beginning to feel IL sort of
proprietOrship in the new building.
boats of their own, and the other three
were looking forward to the time when
they would be Old enough to join the
club. Freddie. the youngest. was only
nine, but he was already as ardent a
bOatman as any of them.
The race was t. be round an island
two miles up the pond and back to the
bOathOuse. Mr.. Freeman and two men
from The village were to act as judges.
As lie boats began to form in line
Mr.. freeman motioneI to Ben. who
happened to be near.
will you let Freddie 20 with vouT'
he asked He wants to be in the race.
and don't like to have him 90 in any
of the lighter boats. The weather
threatens to be very squally. The
older boys ave strong swimmers AMI
can take caro- Of themselves. bat Fncl /
die is too yomg to risk being cap
sized"
"O< cours,, I'll b. glrd ta have
him" cried Ben deli&htadly. IL hal
never been spoken to ~ Mr.. Frcoma1
before, and he wondered why th.t
Keen eyed gentleman had singled him
ont from The rest Of the boys WITH Il
deNter0uS motion he swung his boat
alongside the landing 50 that the little
fellow could spring on board ANA then
circlcd back to reioin the line.
IT viii hardly he necessary for ne
to caution You about being careful"
said Mr. Freeman pleasantly as the
boat @lided by. Il have been watch
inc You for several weeks and am very
clad that You belong to the club"
At this point the pond was nearly
half mile wide. ana there was ample
room for the boats to maupuver and
come into the wind But it was diff
cult to form II true line, and they were
obliged to circle around again and
again before the signal was given.
As they scudded up the pond before
the wind the lighter boats rapidly left
their clumsy companion behind and
when The leading ones rounded point
three ourthS Of a mile away the Mud
Hen had scarcely covered two-thirds Of
the distance.
But all this time the black clouds
We're creeping up the sky, and every
moment the wind was growing more
IttfNl and uncertain. one boat would
have its sails Tapping idly in the wind
aud another. Il few rods away. would
lie StraininG under Il fierce blast which
swept around Il point or from behind
IN island As the wind increased in
violence many Of the boats began to
lower sail little by little, and long be
fore they had rounded the island some
Of them We're carrying less than half
the canvas they had started with.
The Mud Hen was behaving Splen-
didly now and was leaving a long wake
Of churning foam. Ben had not low
cred sail. and he had NJ intention Of
doing 50. at least for tn" present