"No; and you may have to reef this mainsail," added Rodman. "Not at all." "But it is flawy." "So much the better." "Why so?" "Because a fellow that understands himself and keeps his eyes wide open has a chance to gain something on the heavy flaws that almost knock a boat over. It makes a sharper game of it." "But Commodore Montague is up to all those dodges." "I know he is; but in the other race, he lost half his time by luffing up in a squall." "But don't you expect a fellow to luff up in a squall?" demanded Rodman. "If necessary, yes; but the point is, to know when it must be done. If you let off the main-sheet or spill the sail every time a puff comes, you lose time," replied Donald. "I believe in keeping on the safe side; but a fellow may lose the race by dodging every capful of wind that comes. There goes the first gun." "Let us get into line," added Rodman, as he cast off the moorings and hoisted the jib. "Let her drive." Donald took the helm, and the Maud shot away like an arrow in the fresh breeze. "Her sails set beautifully," said the skipper for the occasion; though Rodman was nominally the captain of the yacht, and was so recorded in the books of the club. "Nothing could be better." "We shall soon ascertain how stiff she is," added Donald, as a heavy flaw heeled the yacht over, till she buried her rail in the water. "I don't think we shall get anything stronger than that. She goes down just so far, and then the wind seems to slide off. I don't believe you can get her over any farther." "That's far enough," replied Rodman, holding on, to keep his seat in the standing-room. The Maud passed under the stern of the judges' yacht, and anchored in the line indicated by the captain of the fleet. The Skylark soon arrived, and took her place next to the Penobscot. In these two yachts all the interest of the occasion centred. The Phantom and the Sea Foam soon came into line; and then it was found that the Christabel had withdrawn, for it blew too hard for her. Mr. Norwood and his son came on board, with Dick Adams, who was to be mate of the Maud, and Kennedy, who was well skilled in sailing a boat. Donald had just the crew he wanted, and he stationed them for the exciting race. Mr. Norwood was to tend the jib-sheets in the standing-room, Kennedy the main sheet, while Dick Adams, Frank Norwood, and Sam Rodman were to cast off the cable and hoist the jib forward. "Are you all ready, there?" called Donald, raising his voice above the noise made by the banging of the mainsail in the fresh breeze. "All ready," replied Dick Adams, who was holding the rode with a turn around the bitts. "Don't let her go till I give the word," added Donald. "I want to fill on the port tack." "Ay, ay!" shouted Dick; "on the port tack."