Frank Norwood was the time-keeper, and he stood with his watch in his hand. Each yacht was to pass to windward of the Penobscot, and come round her stern, reporting as she did so. Sam Rodman was to call "time" when the foremast of each yacht was in range with a certain chimney of a house on the main shore. At the word Frank was to give the time, and Donald was to write it down on his schedule. Everything was to be done with the utmost accuracy. The Skylark was rapidly approaching, with the Sea Foam nearly half a mile astern of her. The Phantom and Christabel were not far behind the Sea Foam, while the rest were scattered along all the way over to Turtle Head. "Ready there!" shouted Donald, as the Skylark came nearly in range of the Penobscot and the chimney. "All ready," replied Sam Rodman. The gun forward had been loaded, and a seaman stood at the lock-string, to salute the first boat in. "Time!" shouted Sam, as the mainsail of the Skylark shut in the chimney on the shore; and the six-pounder awoke the echoes among the hills. "Twelve, forty, and thirty-two seconds," added Frank, as he took the time from the watch. "Twelve, forty, thirty-two," repeated Donald, as he wrote it on the schedule. The crowd on the judges' yacht cheered the commodore as the Skylark rounded the Penobscot, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs at him with desperate enthusiasm. "I thought you said the Sea Foam was to beat the Skylark," said Nellie Patterdale. "I think she may do it yet," replied Donald. "And Sam's new boat must beat them both, Don John," laughed Maud Rodman. "Time!" called Sam. "Twelve, forty-five, two," added Frank. "Twelve, forty-five, two," repeated Donald, writing down the time. By this time the Skylark had come about, not by gybing,--for the wind was too heavy to make this evolution in safety,--but had come round head to the wind, and now passed under the stern of the Penobscot. "Skylark!" reported the commodore. A few minutes later the Sea Foam did the same. The Phantom came in a minute after the Sea Foam, and for a few moments the judges were very busy taking the time of the next four boats. The Juno did not arrive till half past one, and she was the last one. As fast as the yachts rounded the Penobscot, they went off to the line and picked up their cables and anchors. The captains of the several craft which had sailed in the race then boarded the Penobscot to ascertain the decision of the judges. "You waxed me badly, Robert," said Ned Patterdale, who was mortified at the defeat of the Sea Foam, though he kept good-natured about it. "I still think the Skylark can't be beaten by anything of her inches," replied Commodore Montague. "I am rather disappointed in the Sea Foam," added Ned.