Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-16

Of luck They've got the fastest boats On the
sound, brand-new engines and new hulls built
with v-shaped bottoms. They slip through
the water slicker'n eel"
who's the other fellow?'
"Lawton's battery"
els he as fast?"
"No His boats bigger and draws q little
more water than ours--old- fashioned round
bottom, like ours-but shes got a new four
cylinder engine in her-ths best in these waters
Wen have flghtin' chance with him II you're
within to take it."
willing to take it-what do you mean7"
srowled.
-Just what say" skete glinned. ITO keep
up with the only man VIC can race the seven
miles ahead of US I've got to adjust our carbu-
rotor to take all the gas she can swallow and
pull her wide open for the first time"
you've never had her wide open?"
always been afraid TO try 1t In this heavy
boat. You know we took this engine out Of
the speed boat last year. She has overhead
valves and. wide open. she'll turn up 2Soo
revolutions minute. That's too fast for .
heavy battery boat TOWN. skih loaded down
with q thousand pounds Of wooden decoys.
always set her to make about 500. II NIX
her carburetor and open her up believe we
can beat Lawtons boat but we may bust our
engine. What do YOU say?"
Adjust your carburetoT-quick!" the boy
whispered.
Skete looked ct me for final orders
"Sure-take chance agreed
He quickly opened the carburetor to take all
the gas her line would apply and the suns
rim cut the horizon the four Of us dashed
across the barrier. The two boats from the
court house gradually drew ahead Of rs. One
passed to the left and the other to the right
and made for stands In the open sound. Law
toms boat struck bee line for the mouth Of
Monkey Island Channel and the race was ON.
The wind was growing stronger and gave us a
steady path toward the goal
Our throttle was wide open now and the
little engine roared her challenge to our rival
= We were leaving long white streak of boiling
water behind US and throwing the spray feet
high In spite of the tail wind
Were holding our own!" the boy cried
faint enough-we got to beat him." Skete
moaned.
The boats were running side by side, less than
70 yards apart. Our man bent over the engine
and gently advanced her spark. We thought
foe q moment she was picking up and we
would pass But we couldn't gain an inch on
him. We saw them fumbing with their supply
OF gas and sir, but their speed remained the
same. It was nip and tuck for six miles, We
were rapidly nearing the entrance to the chan
mel The boat that gained its narrows FIRST
would win the race It was too marrow and
crooked IN places to pass each other.
ssWEvE got to beat himl" skete yelled. "Get
UP on the bow"
He whispered to Marshall the helmsman and
pointed straight across the bar that makes
out into the sound and forms the northern
side Of Monkey Island Channel We an three
climbed on the bow Of our boat and our weight
lifted her stern inches.
There ought to be 3 feet o. water ON that
bar with this wind northeast" said Skete sand
II there Is wen make It, cut on 500 yards and
beat him"
The Lawton boat saw our maneuver and her
captain yelled:
look out youn smash to pieces ON that
bari"
skete waved his arm in defiance Of an riva,s
and bars and we shot straight toward the
al1Oal
He can't fellow u.s." our man rejoiced. "He
draws too much water"
On an even keel when we struck the shoal
70 my surprise our boat leaped forward with
renewed speed The weight Of three men hang
ing ON her bow prevented any suction at her
wheel.
We slipped across the bar without touching It
and dropped into Monkey Island Channel 500
yards ahead Of our rival. He waved an arm
IN surrender and turned back into the sound.
We had won by nose and slowed our hot
little engine down to normal speed with signs
Of relief
The wind grew stronger and it began to spit
now.
LET IT blowi" skete cried. "our harbor
SOe--eAA4 VIC bSSecAs VIC IL a4lCLOI TIE DaCCe1y In
feet O. water not more'n 200 yards from the
marsh. No matter what it does in the sound.
we can stay there all day"
Hot dogi" the boy laughed.
A flock Of 500 canvasback rose from our lit.
tie bay and swept down toward Currituck Beach
Light.
"See that?" reioiced.
They'll come back in singles and pairs and
little punches q nves" Skete chuckled. "For
Gods sake. let me have one crack at 'ern for
the third ro1nd VIII YEP"
Bis appeal to me was moving. He loved to