Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails. Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter. Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by magic from the air. Looking toward the northward I beheld the other yacht standing out in bold relief upon a blacker, more dismal background. She was beautiful at that moment--her sides and sails unnaturally whitened against the gloom, suggesting a cameo set on a piece of slate. Our blocks began to creak, sails bulged into huge scoops, masts tilted majestically, and the _Whim_, freed from her enforced idleness, bounded in response. "Wind!" Tommy shouted, his arms held skyward. "Aphrodite, sweet and mighty, send a gale before the nighty!" "But," Monsieur looked at him reprovingly, "Aphrodite is not goddess of the wind!" "Who said she was?" he innocently asked. "You conjure her for the gale--bah!" "That's because she rhymes with nighty, gezabo! When my Muse sings, to hell with mythology! Come join the clouds--you're sordid!" "These have been sordid clouds," the little fellow laughed. "I would rather join you in other, but a more genial, wet." "Gates, how long before we catch her?" I called. "I carn't measure her speed yet, sir, but should say we won't be far behind in an hour and a harf." "Then," Tommy announced, "we'll go below and drink to the safety of our sweet Princess--for, unless I'm greatly mistaken, this day will see the finish of one good yacht! Give over the wheel and join us, Captain!" It was a hilarious four that touched glasses in the cabin, and after Gates went above we set to work in good earnest on our arms and cartridge belts. Having seen that each piece worked perfectly we followed him up, and the sight which greeted our eyes made us laugh for joy. How we accomplished it only Gates could have told, but now in the late afternoon light the _Orchid_ seemed to be less than half her former distance. Looking over the rail at the flying water I felt a great pride in my father's craft, for she fairly skimmed along. Monsieur began at once to hug the captain, and this time the old skipper did not mind--at least, he permitted it. There was, of course, some concern along with our happiness; first of importance being the declining day that held scarcely more than an hour of light. Had it been otherwise, had the blessing of good sailing weather come to us earlier, we might have held an immediate council of war; but this for the present could be left. It was a profound disappointment, though, and showed in our strained silence. Gates stood at my elbow. "How'll we find her in the morning--if we don't catch up pretty soon?" I asked.