Guilt of the Brass Thieves Part 36

"If you can't race, I won't either," declared Jack stubbornly.

"Jack, you must!" Agitated, Sally raised herself on an elbow. "I'd feel dreadful if you didn't compete. The race has meant everything to you."

"Not any more. Winning doesn't seem important now. I'll not sail in the race unless the _Cat's Paw_ is entered, and that's final!"

"Oh, Jack, you're such an old mule!" Sally tossed her head impatiently on the pillow. Then she grinned. "If my _Cat_ is in the race, you'll sail?"

"Sure," he agreed, suspecting no trick.

Sally laughed gleefully. "Then it's settled! Penny will represent me in the race!"

"I'll do what?" demanded Penny.

"You'll skipper the boat in my stead!"

"But I lack experience."

"You'll win the trophy easily," chuckled Sally. "Why, the _Cat's Paw_ is by far the fastest boat on the river."

"Says who?" demanded Jack, but without his old fire.

"But I couldn't race alone," said Penny, decidedly worried. "Sally, would you be able to ride along as adviser and captain bold?"

"I certainly would jump at the chance if the doctor would give permission. Oh, Penny, if only he would!"

"The race isn't until Friday," Jack said encouragingly. "You can make it, Sally."

The girl pulled herself to a sitting posture, staring at her bandaged hands.

"Yes, I can," she agreed with quiet finality. "Why, I feel better already. Even if I have to be carried to the dock in a wheel chair, I'll be in that race!"

CHAPTER 25 _THE RACE_

A mid-afternoon sun beat down upon the wharves as a group of sailboats tacked slowly toward the starting line for the annual Hat Island trophy race. The sh.o.r.es were lined with spectators, and from the clubhouse where a band played, music carried over the water.

At the tiller of the _Cat's Paw_, Penny, in white blouse and slacks, hair bound tightly to keep it from blowing, sat nervous and tense. Sally, lounging on a cushion in the bow, seemed thoroughly relaxed. Though her arms remained in bandages, otherwise she had completely recovered from her unpleasant experience.

"Isn't the wind dying?" Penny asked anxiously. "Oh, Sally, I was hoping we'd have a good stiff breeze for the race! Handicapped as we are--"

"We're not handicapped," Sally corrected. "Of course, I can't handle the ropes or do much to help, but we have a wonderful boat that will prove more than a match for Jack's _Spindrift_."

"You're only saying that to give me confidence."

"No, I'm not," Sally denied, turning to study the group of racing boats.

"We'll win the trophy! Just wait and see."

"If we do, it will be because of your brain and my brawn," Penny chuckled. "I'll admit I'm scared silly. I never was in an important race before."

Conversation ceased, for the boats now were bunching close to the starting line, maneuvering for position. Jack drifted by in the _Spindrift_, raising his hand in friendly greeting. As he pa.s.sed, he actually glanced anxiously toward Sally, as if worried lest the girl overtax herself.

"I hope he doesn't try to throw the race just to be gallant," Penny thought. "But I don't believe he will, for then the victory would be a hollow one."

The change apparent in Jack so amazed Penny that she had to pinch herself to realize it was true. Since the night of the fire, he had visited Sally every day. In a brief span of hours, he had grown from a selfish, arrogant youth into a steady, dependable man. And it now was evident to everyone that he liked Sally in more than a friendly way.

"Better come about now, Penny," Sally broke in upon her thoughts. "Head for the starting line. The signal should be given any minute now."

The boats started in a close, tight group. Jack was over the line first, but with _Cat's Paw_ directly behind.

In the first leg of the race, the two boats kept fairly even, with the others lagging. As the initial marker was rounded, there was a noticeable fall-off in the wind.

"It's going to be a drifting race," Sally confirmed, raising troubled eyes to the wrinkled sail. "We're barely drawing now and Jack's boat has the edge in a calm."

The _Spindrift_ skimmed merrily along, now in the lead by many yards.

Though Penny held the tiller delicately, taking advantage of every breath of wind, the distance between the two boats rapidly increased.

"We're out of it," she sighed. "We can't hope to overtake Jack now."

Sally nodded gloomily. Shading her eyes against the glare of the sun, she gazed across the river, studying the triangular course. Far off-sh.o.r.e, well beyond the line the _Spindrift_ and their own boat was taking, the surface of the water appeared rippled. Ahead of them there was only a smooth surface.

"Penny," she said quietly. "I believe there's more breeze out there."

Penny nodded and headed the _Cat's Paw_ on the longer course out into the river. To many spectators ash.o.r.e it appeared that the girls deliberately had abandoned the race, but aboard the _River Queen_, Captain Barker grinned proudly at his guests, Mr. Parker, and Mr. and Mrs. Gandiss.

"Those gals are using their heads!" he praised. "Well, Mr. Gandiss, it looks as if the Barkers will keep the trophy another year!"

"The race isn't over yet," Mr. Gandiss rumbled goodnaturedly.

Aboard the _Cat's Paw_, Penny and Sally were none too jubilant. Although sails curved with wind and they were footing much faster than the other boats, the course they had chosen would force them to sail a much longer distance. Could they cross the finish line ahead of the _Spindrift_?

"Shouldn't we turn now?" Penny asked impatiently. "Jack's so much closer than we."

"Not yet," Sally said calmly. "We must make it in one long tack. He will be forced to make several. That's our only chance. If we misjudge the distance, we're sunk."

Tensely, they watched the moving line of boats close along sh.o.r.e. The _Spindrift_ seemed almost at the finish line, though her sails barely were drawing and she moved through the water at a snail's pace.

Again Penny glanced anxiously at her companion.

"Now!" Sally gave the signal.

Instantly Penny swung the _Cat's Paw_ onto the homeward tack. Every inch of her sails drawing, she swept toward the finish line.

"We're so much farther away than the _Spindrift_," Penny groaned, crouching low so that her body would not deflect the wind. "Oh, Sally, will we make it?"

"Can't tell yet. It will be nip and tuck. But if we can keep this breeze--"