They were now lying far over, and the water was two
or three planks up the lee deck. Each time the
cutter went about, the ladies carried their footstools
up to windward, when the vessel was for a moment on
an even keel. When there they were obliged to
sit with one hand over the rail, to prevent themselves
from sliding down to leeward as the vessel heeled.
“There goes the Chrysalis’s topmast,”
the skipper exclaimed suddenly. “That does
for her chance. I think I had better get the
jib header ready for hoisting, Mr. Carthew; the spar
is bending like a whip.”
“Yes, I think you had better get it up at once,
captain. It is no use running any risk.”
As the Phantom’s big topsail came down, the
Osprey’s was seen to flutter and then to descend.
“He has only been waiting for us,” the
captain said.
Carthew made no reply. He was still intently
watching the craft ahead.
“It is just as well for him,” the captain
went on. “He will be in the race directly.”
Bertha was still watching Carthew’s face.
Cheerful as his tones were, there was an expression
of anxiety in it. Three minutes later, he gave
an exclamation as of relief, and a shout rose from
the men forward.
Following the direction of his eyes, she saw the bowsprit
of the Osprey swing to leeward, and a moment later
her topmast fall over her side.
“What did I tell you?” Carthew said, exultingly.
“A race is never lost till it is won.”
“Oh! I am sorry,” Bertha said.
“I do think it is hard to lose a race by an
accident.”
“Every yacht has to abide by its own accidents,
Miss Greendale; and carrying away a spar is one of
the accidents one counts on. If it were not for
that risk, yachts would always carry on too long.
It is a matter of judgment and of attention to gear.
The loss of a spar is in nine times out of ten the
result either of rashness or of inattention.
“However, I am sorry myself; that is to say,
I would prefer winning the cup by arriving first at
the flag boat. However, I am certainly not disposed
to grumble at Fortune just at present.”
“I should think not, Mr. Carthew,” Lady
Olive said. “I am sure I congratulate you
very heartily. Of course, I have seen scores of
races, and whenever there is any wind someone is always
sure to lose a spar, and sometimes two or three will
do so. I don’t think you need fear any
of the boats behind.”
“No, yet I don’t feel quite safe.
I have no fear of any of the cutters, but once round
the Needles, it will be a broad reach, and you will
see that the schooners will come up fast, and I have
to allow them a good bit of time. However, I
think we are pretty safe.”
The Phantom presently came along close to the Osprey,
and Carthew shouted:
“Is there anything that I can do for you?”
“No, thank you,” Frank replied.
