"He has only been waiting for us," the captain said.
Carthew made no reply. He was still intently watching the craft
ahead.
"It is just as well for him," the captain went on. "He will be in
the race directly."
Bertha was still watching Carthew's face. Cheerful as his tones
were, there was an expression of anxiety in it. Three minutes
later, he gave an exclamation as of relief, and a shout rose from
the men forward.
Following the direction of his eyes, she saw the bowsprit of the
Osprey swing to leeward, and a moment later her topmast fall over
her side.
"What did I tell you?" Carthew said, exultingly. "A race is never
lost till it is won."
"Oh! I am sorry," Bertha said. "I do think it is hard to lose a
race by an accident."
"Every yacht has to abide by its own accidents, Miss Greendale; and
carrying away a spar is one of the accidents one counts on. If it
were not for that risk, yachts would always carry on too long. It
is a matter of judgment and of attention to gear. The loss of a
spar is in nine times out of ten the result either of rashness or
of inattention.
"However, I am sorry myself; that is to say, I would prefer winning
the cup by arriving first at the flag boat.
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