ence had been made, lay near the course Yaspard
was on. If the _Laulie_ could not intercept Yaspard before he reached
the little island she would lose ground by being obliged to tack a good
deal, while he, having the wind with him, would easily get ahead.

"If it becomes a chase we haven't a chance," said Harry, "so we must
try and cut him off at the holme."

But Yaspard knew pretty well what their tactics were likely to be, and
acted accordingly.

It is not possible to describe with any degree of accuracy the very
clever way in which the boats tried to circumvent each other; how the
_Osprey_ dodged here and there, striving to outrace the other, and how
the _Laulie_ gallantly defeated every attempt so made. At last
Yaspard, seeing that nothing but a very bold effort had any chance of
success, determined to try a delicate manoeuvre. His boat, being
smaller and lighter than the _Laulie_, could venture much nearer a
skerry or holme. He resolved to run straight for Yelholme. He knew
that the other boat would do likewise, but approaching from another
point, would be obliged to lower sail and trust to the oars. He hoped
he could keep "on wing," and round the holme in safety before the
_Laulie_ had got on the same course. Accordingly he altered his
tactics, and sent his skiff careening toward the holme as if he meant
to dash right into it.

"What on earth is he up to now?" Bill exclaimed in wonder; "he will be
under our stern in a jiffy if he holds on like that."

"If he passes astern he will reach the holme and be round it before us.
We must not allow that; drop the sail, Bill," said Harry.

Down went the _Laulie's_ sail, and in a short time she was rowing
swiftly for the same point that the _Osprey_ seemed bent on gaining.
Yaspard did not alter his course one bit until he was within talking
distance of the enemy, and dangerously near the holme.

"Don't be rash, man," Harry sung out. "You will be flung on the holme
by that undertow on the lee side."

Even as he spoke Yaspard saw the danger he had not considered, and
promptly dropped his sail. By that time the boats were almost within
an oar's length of each other, but the _Osprey_ was ahead. With
wondrous speed the Viking-boy had his oars out, and would soon have
been round the holme and on his course again, but at that moment Tom
Holtum caught up a coil of rope lying handy, and flung it like a lasso
over the _Osprey_. The bight fell over her rudder and ho