nce Island in about twenty
minutes. If you can stand it for that time, you will be all right,"
continued the skipper, who did not wish to waste his time, and lose the
race, by putting any of his crew on shore.

"I don't want to go ashore," said Nat Long. "I can stand it as long as
Dory can, and I shall not back out."

This exhibition of pluck had its effect on the others, and no one was
willing to admit that he wished to go ashore. But the appearance of the
lake ahead was appalling to most of them, though they had crossed it
that day in the little steamer. The bad reputation of the Goldwing was
what made it look so dubious. Dory had been as doubtful about crossing
as any of them; but he had tested the boat under her present sail, and
all his doubts had been removed. For a boy of his age he had had a great
deal of experience in sailing a boat; and he knew by the feeling, rather
than by any thing he could see, that the schooner was working well. He
believed that she was entirely safe.

He had ascertained the draught of the Goldwing at the wharf, and he was
perfectly familiar with every part of the lake. When the boat came up
with the island, he ran within a few rods of it. He looked astern at the
Missisquoi as he came into the still water under the lee of the island.
She had been gaining rapidly upon him; and, if his strategy failed,
Pearl Hawlinshed would soon be alongside of the Goldwing.

But he could hardly conceive of such a thing as its failing. He watched
the steamer with the most intense interest as he increased his distance
from the island. The schooner passed out into the open lake. The gusts
of wind increased in fury, and even the reefed mainsail seemed to be
more sail than she could carry.

More than once, under the pressure of the savage gusts, the boat heeled
down till the water rolled in over the lee gunwale. The heavy waves
broke continually over the other side; and, before the Goldwing was half
way across the open part of the lake, the water rose above her bottom
boards.

"This is awful, Dory," said Thad. "I don't believe we shall ever get to
the other side of the lake. If I had thought it was half as bad as this,
I wouldn't have come."

"It is very wet; and that is the worst you can say of it," replied Dory.
"We are going over all right, but we must keep more of this water on the
outside of the boat. Thad, you may man the pump; for it is getting
rather damp in the standing-room."

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