CHAPTER XL.
A Regatta.--The "Waterlog's" Victory.
The waters of the broad once more blazed beneath the summer sun. The_Swan_ lay at anchor in a reedy bay, and the three boys were sitting ondeck, busily engaged in discussing some project which seemed to interestthem very much.
For some years past a large yacht had been a prominent object on theNorfolk and Suffolk waters, not on account of her speed or her beauty,but because of her great ugliness of form, and her exceeding slowness ofsailing. Cram on as much sail as you could, and yet the clumsiest wherrycould beat her in sailing. Her owner entered her for many a race, andshe was invariably so badly beaten that she became a laughing-stock. Hername was the _Waterlily_, but she was facetiously christened anduniversally called the "Waterlog." Her end was tragic. One time when thewaters were very high after great floods, her owner sailed her into asmall broad, and, not taking her off in time, the waters fell, and therewas not depth enough to float her out, and she became fixed in a trap,out of which she could not be removed. She was offered for sale, but noone would buy her; so her owner, in a fit of disgust, first dismantledher and then set fire to her, and so she perished. Her nickname survivedher, however, and, to the great indignation of the boys, descended uponthe _Swan_, whose stiff and stately motion and peculiar appearance hadmade her the mark for it.
They were now holding an "indignation meeting" upon the subject, and away had just been mooted by which they hoped to sustain the dignity oftheir boat.
"Wroxham Regatta is on the 20th of next month," said Frank, "and thereis a race open to all classes of yachts except the winners of theprevious races. Those will clear off the crack ships, and I don't thinkwe need fear any of the others. I vote we enter the _Swan_ for it, andshow them how she can sail. The prize is a very handsome cup."
"Do you really think she will have any chance, Frank?" asked Jimmy.
"Not with her present rig; but we will add a big top-sail to bothmain-sail and mizen. Her double shape will enable her to stand anyamount of sail, and if we have a good side wind and plenty of it weshall stand a very good chance."
So it was decided that the yacht should be entered for the race, andthey set to work to prepare two immense yards and top-sails, and topractise sailing the yacht with them up. Mary Merivale and Edith Rosewere invited to be on board during the race; the elders were to bepresent on board a friend's yacht to witness the regatta.
The day of the regatta arrived, and a strong north-wester was raisingmimic waves on the broad. The boys had taken the yacht overnight toWroxham, and in the morning they met Mary and Edith at Wroxham Bridge,and took them on board.
"Is it not dreadfully windy?" asked Edith Rose, as the wind blew hercurls back from her pretty face.
"It is just what we want, Miss Rose," answered Frank.
"Wouldn't it be safer if we were not to be on board during the race? Iam afraid you are going to be too venturesome. I heard you were going toput some more sails up, and I am sure these are large enough," saidEdith.
"Pray don't desert us now," said Frank, so piteously, that Edith made nomore objection for fear of vexing him.
Over the fence of tall reeds which now separated them from the broadthey could see scores of white sails and gay pennants, and it wasevident that there was a large assemblage.
"Why, Frank," said Mary, "I declare you are quite nervous; I can feelyour arm tremble."
Frank indignantly repelled the accusation, but Jimmy, who was sitting onthe roof of the cabin kicking his heels, said:--
"I am awfully, miserably nervous, and I believe we are going to make atremendous mull of it, and we've done all we can to make ourselvesconspicuous."
They had entered the yacht, out of a spirit of bravado, under the nameof "The Waterlog," and they had painted the name on slips of stoutpaper, and tacked it over the legitimate name of their yacht.
"Nonsense!" was Frank's somewhat angry commentary on Jimmy's speech.
They now entered the broad, which presented a lively scene. Yachts ofall rigs and sizes were skimming about, with gunwales under, to thestiff breeze. When the signal for the first race was given, those yachtsnot engaged in it came to an anchor, and the _Swan_, on whom all eyeswere turned, took up her station next to the yacht in which were Mr.Merivale and his friends.
The wind continued to freshen and grow more gusty, so that of thoseyachts which started with their top-sails, two had them carried away inthe first round, and the others had to take them down, and the yachtwhich won had a single reef in her huge main-sail.
There were three races before the open race for which the _Swan_ wasentered under her assumed name. I have not space to dwell upon theincidents of these, nor to dilate upon the glorious life and movement ofthe broad, with its crowd of white sails, and its waves sparkling in thesunlight. Three of the best yachts were, through being winners in theraces, prohibited from sailing in the open race, but there werenevertheless a sufficient number of entries on the card of the races tomake our boys dubious as to the result of their somewhat boldexperiment. There were six named as to start. Two were lateeners, one aschooner, two cutters, and the sixth was the "Waterlog."
The course was three times round the lake, outside of certainmark-boats; and, as the wind blew, the yachts would catch it abeam fortwo-thirds the course, dead aft for a sixth, and dead ahead for theremainder. As Frank said, it was a wind in every respect suitable forthe raft-like _Swan_.
The race excited a great amount of interest. The _Swan_ was now wellknown to all the yachtsmen, and her change of name provoked curiosityand interest, and as the signal came for the yachts to take theirstation all eyes were upon the "Waterlog" (as we will call her duringthe race). As the boys ran up her sails and sailed away to thestarting-point, a decided manifestation of admiration arose as the greattop-sails slowly ascended under the strenuous efforts of Dick and Jimmy.As they fluttered in the wind, Mary threw all her little weight on tothe halyard to assist in hauling them tight and flat.
Mary and Edith took up their places in the bows, where they were out ofthe way, as there is no jib in a lugger rig.
"Now, Dick," whispered Frank, "if any accident _should_ happen--althoughit isn't likely--do you see to Mary, and I'll take Edith."
"All right, old man."
The yachts started from slip anchors, with the canvas set; and at theflash of the starting-gun, sheets were hauled in, and the six yachtswhich came to the starting-point bounded away almost simultaneously, thewhite water flashing away from their bows, and boiling and eddying intheir wake. The wind was now blowing very fresh indeed, the other yachtswere not only gunwales under, but the water swept all over the leewardhalf of their decks, and even the "Waterlog," in spite of the width ofher beam and double shape, had her leeward pontoon completely submerged.
On they surged, the two girls clinging to the forestay, heedless of wetfeet, and breathless with the swift excitement: Frank firmly graspingthe tiller, his teeth set and his blue eyes gleaming; Dick at themain-sheet, and Jimmy standing on the counter with the mizen-sheet inhis grasp, both watching their captain, to be instant at his commands.
The first round was quickly over, and then the position of the competingyachts was this:--The schooner was ahead, then at a little distance camethe "Waterlog," and close behind her the rest of the yachts in a body.As they passed Mr. Merivale he cried out, "Well done, boys! you'll geta good place."
Next they passed a small boat, in which they saw Bell, whoshouted,--"Haul in your sheets a bit more,--your top-sails will holdmore wind."
Frank saw the wisdom of this advice, and as he followed it, the"Waterlog" shot forward and gained a little upon the schooner.
"If the wind were to freshen a little we should come in second," saidFrank.
But as they commenced the third round the wind dropped mostunexpectedly. The schooner in front rose nearer the perpendicular andher speed increased; the "Waterlog" fell back, and a large lateenerbehind fast overhauled her.
"How dreadfully annoying,
" said Frank; and he hated that lateener with avery vigorous hate. They passed Bell's boat again, and the old manshouted--
"Look out, Master Frank, a squall will be on you in a minute."
The sudden lull was but the precursor of a tremendously violent gust. Asthe yachts were beating up to round the last mark-boat before getting astraight run in to the goal, the boys saw the trees on the land bowtheir heads with a sudden jerk, and then the squall was upon them. Itdid not affect them so much when they were close hauled, but as theleading schooner rounded the boat and presented her broadside to thewind there was a great crash, and her cloud of white canvas descendedupon the water. Her foremast had broken close by the deck, and infalling had snapped the remaining mast half way up, and she lay like alog on the water. The lateener, close upon her heels, heeled over somuch, that she began to fill through the hatchway, and to save her froman upset her sheets were let go, and with her sails wildly flutteringshe drifted on to the disabled wreck. All this was the work of a fewseconds, but there was time for Frank to unloose the halyards of thetop-sails, which were purposely made fast just in front of him, and togive a warning shout of "heads!" and then, to the great alarm of thegirls, the sails came clattering down to leeward, and they rounded theboat in safety, though cannoning violently against the wreck as they didso. And now they were _first_! The cutter next behind them, in shootingup into the wind to save herself, lost way, and was no longer adangerous enemy, and although the other yachts rounded the boat, yetthey were far astern, and the victory of the "Waterlog" was secure. At aword from Frank the two girls, one on each side, stripped off theassumed name, and let the papers float away on the wind, and, amidvociferous cheering and clapping of hands and waving of handkerchiefs,the _Swan_ shot past the winning-post, and so gained the prize.
Although gained partly by accident it was a great triumph for the boys,and the girls were quite as proud and delighted as they were.
"You are a dear good boy, and I'll give you a kiss," said merry MaryMerivale to her brother, "although you would rather have one fromsomebody else than from me, I know."
"I say, Molly, I wish you'd get her to give me one."
"You will have to wait a very long time for that, Mr. Frank."
"If you would give Dick one, she would give me one."
"That's all you know about it, sir," said Mary, making him a saucycurtsey.
CHAPTER XLI.
The Conclusion.
Now this chronicle of the doings of my three boys must come to an end. Ihave grown very fond of them, and I hope you have too.
We will take a big jump from the doings recorded in the last chapter,and look in upon them at a time fraught with importance to each of them.Their pleasant school with Mr. Meredith is broken up. Frank and Dick aregoing to college, and Jimmy is about to be articled to a Norwichsolicitor. They will always remain the best of friends, but still thenew times will never again be like the old. New interests, newcompanions, new ambitions, all will leave their mark and have theirinfluence, although this I am sure of, that the memory of this gloriouspartnership of three will always remain green and fresh with them, andhave the greatest of all influences on their future lives.
Mr. Meredith had invited all three of them to dinner, and when Mrs.Meredith had retired the conversation grew more personal andconfidential. They looked upon Mr. Meredith as an intimate friend andcounsellor, as well as a tutor and schoolmaster, and they told him theirplans and hopes, just as if he were one of themselves.
Presently a silence fell upon the table. Frank looked at Dick, and Dicklooked at Frank, and Jimmy kicked him under the table, and at last Frankcleared his throat with a preparatory "ahem" and said,--
"I am not good at making speeches, Mr. Meredith, but we wish to expresshow very much obliged we have been to you for the kindness and the--infact the--the--well, what we mean to say is--that you are a brick of agood fellow, sir."
"What an awful muddle you have made of it, Frank," said Dick, in areproachful whisper, and Jimmy launched a vicious kick at him under thetable.
There was a twinkle in Mr. Meredith's eye as he drank off his wine,which was partly due to mirth, and partly to a deeper feeling. Hesaid,--
"I know what you mean, Frank, and in return I may say, that I am bothglad and sorry that the hour has come for us to part for a time. I amsorry, because I have much enjoyed your companionship for the last threeyears, and I believe you have done me as much good as I have done you. Iam glad, because you have become such fine young fellows, and I have hada hand in the making of you, and you must do us all credit. Jimmy willmake a good lawyer, I think; and he must remember that the law is anhonourable profession, and that lawyers take the place of the knights ofold; they must do all they can to succour the widows and fatherless, andnever allow themselves to be made instruments of oppression. I will giveJimmy just one piece of advice: Go straight, and never attempt tofinesse. I believe that this clever finessing, and attempting to outdoother lawyers in cleverness, has been the cause of the moral ruin ofmany an able lawyer. Dick, I am sorry to say, will have no need to be ofany occupation, but he must try to get plenty of voluntary work,nevertheless, for no man's life can be noble unless he does some of theworld's work. And Frank, what are you going to be?"
"I don't know yet, sir," replied Frank, "I should like to be a soldier,if I could be sure of active service pretty often."
"I wish you would be a soldier in a purer army, my boy. We want somemore men of your strength and energy to fight the devil with. We wantmen who will not only do what they have to do with all their might, butwho have plenty of might to use."
"I haven't the gift of the gab, sir," said Frank modestly.
"That would come with practice and study, and, 'out of the fulness ofthe heart the mouth speaketh.' But come, we must not leave Mrs. Meredithso long alone on this your last night here."
So they went into the drawing-room and had a quietly pleasant evening.
When they left, they walked together down by the broad, talking of manythings. It was bright moonlight, and the _Swan_ lay still and distincton the water. It was warm, being in the middle of summer, and it was notlate; and as they stood looking at the boat which they had built, andwhich had served them so well, they saw Mary and Edith Rose, who wasstaying with her, coming towards them, and Mr. and Mrs. Merivale not farbehind.
"Good night," said Jimmy, "I shall see you both in the morning;" and offhe went.
"Poor Jimmy," said Frank, "he does not like both of us going away, andhe to be left behind alone."
The two girls joined them, and Frank and Edith walked off together, andDick and Mary did the same in another direction.
"Mary," said Dick, "Mr. Meredith said that I ought to do some work inthe world."
"So you ought, Dick," she replied; "both Frank and Jimmy are going to bebusy, and I did so hope you would do something too."
"I mean to do something," he replied, with a quiet smile, "but I shallnot tell you what it is yet. But if I do something which will show thatI am of some use in the world, and not a mere drone, will you marry me?"
It was not light enough to see if she blushed, but I am sure she did sovery sweetly. What she said, very naively, was this:--
"I thought you would ask me some time, Dick, but I did not want you to_quite_ ask me until you came from college. We are only boy and girl,you know."
"I am quite satisfied, Mary," he said, in that quiet, gentle voice ofhis which made you like him so much,--and so a compact was made, whichboth of them faithfully kept.
Frank had not dared to say half so much to Edith; but the next morning,when he was saying good bye to them all, and it came to her turn, helooked her steadily in the face as she took his hand, and, moved by asudden impulse, she put up her face to be kissed as Mary had done, andas he gravely kissed her, he said in a low tone, designed for her earalone,--
"I am going to do my very best, Edith, and what I do will be for yoursake."
These were sweet words to the little maiden; but Fra
nk received by thenext morning's post a little Testament from her, with these wordswritten on the fly-leaf--
"Not altogether for MY sake, Frank," and the half rebuke was of greatservice to Frank.
And so, God be with them!
THE END.
LONDON: R. CLAY, SONS, AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS, BREAD STREET HILL, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Italics are indicated by _underscores_. Small caps are indicated by ALLCAPS.
Archaic spelling, and variations in hyphenation, punctuation, and use ofaccents appear as in the original. Several words appear both with andwithout hyphenation. End-of-line hyphenations in the original arerejoined here.
Obvious typographical errors have been changed.
Page 4: added comma ("Yes, Frank, he is) Page 26: "loth" to "loath" (were loath to destroy) Page 51: added full stop (The Owner.--) Page 54: added opening quote mark ("What a thing) Page 54: comma to full stop (said Dick. "Is that) Page 57: added comma (Mr. ----," said Jimmy) Page 80: italicized "Swan" (found that the _Swan_) Page 81: added full stop (fir-tree.) Page 81: capitalized "Is" ("Is it a crow's) Page 86: "affect" to "affects" (it sometimes affects) Page 87: removed opening quote mark (On the ground) Page 92: added full stop (sixty feet in length.) Page 93: removed comma (to or from Lake) Page 96: added comma (said Frank, "is not) Page 98: added comma (external accident,) Page 113: added comma (Frank's boat, "but) Page 122: full stop to comma (I was a fool,") Page 127: added opening quote mark ("Well, sir, a lot) Page 142: added full stop (about the birds.) Page 152: added comma ("So have I," said Frank.) Page 159: added comma (law of nature,") Page 160: removed closing quote mark (_Wild Flowers_:--) Page 164: single to double opening quote mark ("Up with the) Page 168: removed closing quote mark (its last change) Page 199: greek character to "omega" (the letter omega,) Page 227: "Heron.--Hawking." to "Heron-hawking." (chapter heading) Page 236: added closing quote mark (tempt him by size.") Page 250: "perfectlv" to "perfectly" (perfectly free from snow.) Page 253: "fastastic" to "fantastic" (in fantastic masses,) Page 258: added closing quote mark (last will and testament!")
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