La Junta tribune., 1907-01-05

IiLL81-
others Long before they reached the
turning point they met them coming
back In a long. wayering line under
half or three quarter sail and skim-
ming over the water like 50 many big
birds Ben glanced critically from ole
TO III. other and shook his head.
They've got too much sail up nov. :"
he said anxialisly. Them sort o. boats
can't carry like ours can. First thy
know somebody'll he spilled"
His words came true sooner than be
had expected One OF the boats caught
the wind ON new tack before her
commander was prepared. and The sni
den fllng of the sails caused the TO- I
sheh 10 lie almost lifted from the %
ter In moment her two occupants
were struggling Ia the pond
Fortunately they were good swim
msr>. and they promptly set 10 York
10 disentaDgi- the rigging aud Ref ~
boat ashore. hut they were out of the
-rsse. -s---sr ---->-
The accident was witnessed from all
tbs bpsis a5d; cs used a .ss,5dsn- ripHaa
of caution. Sails were hastily ed
and reckless commas sJer~- yspt ~ ~
other extreme and became overvayefNk
All but the captain OF ebA lsusl-tsyf,
lie knew his boat and. with an ap-
proving glance toward the rudely con-
structsJ rigging settled hltnself fSply
beside 'tpe tiller y Yake a short
around the isIand
There was nothing ,rac-fuI abou, ~
movements OF his boat. II plunged and
bobb.-i and sometimes met the waves
head down. but IL covered the df-tand
rapidly. aud that was what Ben ~apts
ed when he rounded the island ',hS
nearest boat was less than an eighth
II n mile away.
III. Mud Hen did not cleave the va
ter as a pointed boat would have done.
II dashed forward recklessly aud
buried Its PROV under n comb Of falling
spray. Freddie clapped his hands and
shouted gle~fully. and Ben himself was
scarcely less excited.
Gradually they gained on the nearest
boat and passed IL and then rapidly
overha uled the next and the next
When they came In sight of the boat
house. half a mile away. there were
but three boats In front OF them.
Ben's lips were tightly closed now,
and he made each tack count for as
much rs possible. when he changed
his course he brought the boat Instant
ly into the wind aud never lost a sec
ond 10y useless tapping of the sail.
Presently another boat was passed and
then another. Freddie was Jubilant
and looked at Ben with shining eyes.
But the captain Of the Mud Hen had
a queer smile on h.s face. A. the two
boats shot forward. PROV and prov. he
leaned suddenly agaiuS: the tiller. and
his boat swerved almost ialpereeptibly
10 one side The next instant the other
boat crossed the line scarcely yard in
advance
Freddie uttered n cry of dismay and
sank dejectedly on his seat hen nod
ded brightly 10 the captain OF the VIC
toriou~ boat and then turned the Mud
Hen toward shore
As he glded up to the boat landing
Mr.. Freeman stepped down and grasp
ed his hand
You made n splendid dash that last
half mile" he cried cordially. Il had
no idea your boat was such n racer.
BY the way. that boy who won is a
friead Of yours. isn't he:''
'Yes. sir
clad he got the race. I supI.ose?'
Yes. iadeei-' eagerly. His father
Promised him new boat ir-- Ben
stopped suddenly as he saw the quiz
zical smile on Mr.. Freeman's face
Il see That is why you gave him the
race them
Ren flushed and looked embarrassed
IL
''oh. its all right Make your racer
fast and come into the boathouse. We
are going to finish the day with a good
dinner and some speeches And this
evening ell Of you are to come NJ to
nry hoose- Hurry. Its -baginzinx .
rain"