CHAPTER XVII
A LITTLE RACE
For some time Cora held the lead in her boat, with the other followingin her wake. The girls talked among themselves, speculation being rifeas to what the young man wanted in Bayhead.
"It's an awfully swell place," said Lottie. "I spent one Summer there,and it was nothing but dress, dress, dress all the while! Either formotoring, tennis or bridge. Oh, I got so weary of it!"
"But you liked it--especially the dressing," put in Belle.
"I should have, my dear, I don't mind admitting that, if only I hadhad enough gowns," went on Lottie, with a sigh. "But I didn't havehalf enough. Papa was dreadfully poor that year. I believe he saidthere had been a 'slump in the market,' whatever that means.
"Anyhow I know I couldn't begin to dress as those in my set did. Sothat's how I remember Bayhead. I should like to go there again. It'sperfectly stunning."
"That young fellow doesn't look to be any too well dressed," remarkedBess.
"Naturally he wouldn't--going out in a boat," said Cora. "Somethingseems to be the matter with his engine," she added, for the strangerwas bending over it.
Whatever it was did not seem to be serious, for the lone motorboatiststraightened up again presently. He increased his speed, and camealongside the _Chelton_.
"We seem to be some distance from the point," he said, with a smile."Don't you want a little race? You can call it off before we get nearthe danger spot."
Cora was rather taken aback by the proposal. It was one thing todirect a stranger, even when he was a youth good to look at, and itwas all right, too, to even pilot him on his way in strange waters;but it was quite another matter to have the aforesaid stranger invitehimself to a race. It was like having a beggar apply at your frontdoor, and when given a sandwich, calmly ask for soup.
"I don't believe----" began Cora, but Bess slid up to her on the longseat and whispered:
"Oh, do, Cora! It won't do any harm, and it will complete the nervecure you have begun so well. Besides, we need a little practice inracing. We may take part in the water carnival down here."
"Well, if the rest of you are willing, I'm not going to be the one toobject," returned Cora, smilingly.
"Will--will it be dangerous?" faltered timid Marita.
"Not a bit--you dear little goose!" exclaimed Belle, putting her armabout the shrinking one. "We've raced lots of times--and won, too!"
"Against such appealing strangers?" asked Lottie, raising her eyebrowsin a rather affected way.
"Oh, it's all in the game!" laughed Bess. Certainly her nerves seemedall right now.
The young man--he had refrained from giving his name, either byaccident or design--had been bending over his motor during thewhispered talk among the girls. Now he looked up again.
"Well," he asked, pleasantly, "is it to be a race?"
"If you like," answered Cora, calmly.
"I certainly do like. I'm going to enter some of the Bayhead races,and I'd like to see how my boat will go."
"But it's a lighter boat than ours," returned Cora, who was notwilling to give nor take an unfair advantage. "And we have fivepassengers."
"I've thought of that," the young man went on. "I'm willing to accepta handicap. I'll drop back about five hundred feet and allow you thatmuch."
"That would be fair," assented Cora, who, from having taken part invarious races knew what would be about right.
"Then here goes!" cried the stranger, as he throttled down his motor."I'll give you a hail when I'm coming on."
The _Chelton_ at once began drawing away from the _Pickerel_, whichwas the name of the stranger's boat.
This craft, it seemed, had a clutch arrangement, so that the motorcould be allowed to run without the propeller revolving. Cora's boatwas likewise equipped.
"Are you going to beat him?" asked Lottie, as she moved back where nodrop of spray could spot her blue dress.
"I am certainly going to try," said Cora with a smile. "What does arace amount to if you don't try to win?"
"Oh, of course, but then I thought this was only in fun."
"It's a race for keeps," announced Cora. "And I think we'll win. Thatlast gasoline we got is the best we ever had. It gives us more power,and the _Chelton_ is running like a sewing machine, as Jack says. Ithink we're going to win!"
She opened the throttle a little wider and the _Chelton_ respondedinstantly.
A moment later there came a hail from the rear.
"Distance enough! I'm coming!"
Cora glanced back.
"He certainly was generous," she said. "That's a good five hundredfeet."
"He looks like a generous chap," murmured Lottie. She was againpolishing her nails. Possibly she thought she might be introduced tothe stranger, later on.
There was the sound of a louder exhaust from the boat astern. Theyoung man evidently was going to try his best to win.
But Cora had no intention of letting him do so. She had shrewdlyestimated the ability of his boat, as well as she could, though ofcourse it was difficult, in the case of a craft she had never beforeseen.
"Sit on the other side; will you, Lottie dear?" asked Cora, as,grasping the steering wheel with firmer fingers she looked at thecourse ahead of her.
"Oh, I'm so comfortable here," objected Lottie.
"I know, but the boat isn't trimmed properly, and she can't do herbest unless she is."
"Like us girls," remarked Belle. "We, too, must be properly trimmed todo our best."
"Trimmed!" exclaimed Lottie. "I don't see any frills on the _Chelton_."
"You may later, if we win the race," said Bess. "But what Cora meansis that the boat isn't properly balanced. There is too much weight onthe starboard side."
"Oh, then I'm on the starboard side," said Lottie.
"Yes, or on the right, according to the new navy rules," agreed Cora."But, really, someone must shift."
"But if I go over there I'm afraid the spray will get on my dress,"objected Lottie. "And it spots terribly, especially with salt water."
"I'll change over," said Marita. "I don't mind if my dress does getwet."
"You're a dear," sighed Lottie, as she settled back among thecushions.
"And you're a bit selfish," thought Cora.
The _Chelton_, now in better trim, skimmed over the bay. Behind hercame the _Pickerel_. And, as Cora looked back she noted that the youngman's craft was slowly overtaking her.
"He has more speed than I thought he had," she mused.
Foot by foot the young man urged his boat onward. Clearly he was notof that false chivalrous type that permits a lady to win whether shehas the ability or not. To a really athletic girl, pitted against aman in an equal contest, nothing is more humiliating than to realizethat her opponent is not putting forth all his powers. There are somemen who will never try too hard to win from a woman. This stranger wasevidently not of that type, and Cora valued him accordingly.
"Can you get up any more speed?" asked Belle, anxiously.
"I've got a bit left," said Cora, as she opened the throttle a littlewider. "And I think I'll need it," she added.
"He certainly is coming on," added Belle in a low voice. "Are wegetting too near the rocks, Cora?"
"No, it's safe so far. But I think I'll go out a bit. I want to winthis race."