REGATTA DAY
Peggy and Polly scrambled out of bed the morning of the Yale-Harvard
crew race, to find all the world sparkling and cool with a stiff breeze
from the Sound. It was a wonderful day and already the sight presented
in the bay was enough to thrill the dullest soul. During the five days
in which "Navy Bungalow," as it had been promptly named by the young
people, had been occupied by the congenial party from Annapolis, old
friendships had strengthened and new ones ripened, and a happier
gathering of people beneath one roof it would have been hard to find.
Perfect freedom was accorded every one, and the boys who had just
graduated soon found their places with the older officers, for the
transition, once the diploma is won, is a swift one. As passed
midshipmen and "sure enough" junior officers, they had an established
position impossible during their student days in the Academy.
The boys on the practice cruise also felt a greater degree of liberty,
and the fact that they were the proteges of Commander Harold and Captain
Stewart gave them an entree everywhere.
To Durand the experience was not a new one, for he had the faculty of
winning an entree almost anywhere, but to Ralph and his roommate, Jean
Paul Nicholas, as bright, merry a chap as ever looked frankly into one's
face with a pair of the clearest, snappiest blue eyes ever seen, the
world was an entirely new one and fairly overflowing with delightful
experiences. Then, too, they were now youngsters instead of plebes, and
this fact alone would have been almost enough to fill their cups with
joy. The other boys who came from the ships had been second-classmen
during the past year, but were now in all the glory of first-classmen,
and doing their best to make good during the cruise in order to carry
off some of the stripes waiting to be bestowed upon the efficient ones
during the coming October.
In the two weeks spent with Mrs. Harold at Annapolis, Mrs. Howland had
learned to love Peggy Stewart very dearly and Mrs. Harold said:
"Madeline, you have won more from Peggy Stewart than you realize. She
has a rarely sweet character, though I am forced to admit that she seems
to have been navigating uncharted waters. I have never known a girl of
her age to live such an extraordinary life and why she is half as
lovable, charming and possessed of so much character, is a problem I
have been trying all winter to solve. But I rather dread the next few
years for her unless some one both wise and affectionate takes that
little clipper ship's helm. She is entirely beyond Harrison and Mammy
now, and her father hasn't even a passing acquaintance with his only
child. He THINKS he has, and he loves her devotedly, but there's more to
Peggy Stewart in one hour than Neil Stewart will discover in years at
the rate of two months out of twelve spent with her. I think the world
of the child, but Polly is MY girl, and has slipped into Constance's
place. I want you to let her stay with me, too. I have been so happy
this winter, and she with me, but I wish there was someone to be in
Peggy's home, or she could be sent to a good school for a year or two.
Sometimes I think that would be the best arrangement in the long run."
Meanwhile Peggy was entirely unaware of the manner in which her future
was being discussed and she and Polly were looking forward to regatta
day with the liveliest anticipation.
As Peggy and Polly looked out over the bay and up the river that perfect
morning Peggy cried:
"Oh, Polly COULD anything be lovelier than this day? The sky is like a
blue canopy, not a cloud to be seen, the air just sets one nearly crazy,
and that blue, sparkling water makes me long to dive head-first into
it."
"Well, why not?" asked Polly. "It is only half past six and loads of
time for a dip before breakfast. Let's get into our bathing suits, bang
on the ceiling to wake up Happy, Shortie and Wheedles and make them
stick their heads out of the window."
It did not take five minutes to carry the suggestion into effect and a
golf stick thumping "reveille" under Wheedles' bed effectually brought
him back from dreams of Annapolis. Rousing out the other two he stuck a
tousled head out of his window to be hailed by two bonny little figures
prancing excitedly upon the balcony beneath him.
"Hello, great god Sumnus," cried Polly, "Wake up! Oh, but you do look
sleepy. Stir up the others. Peggy and I are going down for a dip before
breakfast and to judge by your eyes they need the sand washed out of
them."
"Awh! Whow! Oh," yawned Wheedles, striving vainly to keep his mouth
closed and to get his eyes opened. Just then two other heads appeared.
"What's doing? House afire?" they asked.
"No, it's the other element--water," laughed Peggy. "Come and get into
it. That's what we are going to do. You may think those pink and blue
JACKETS you're wearing are the prettiest things in the world--WE know
they are part of your graduation "trousseau," but bathing suits are in
order just now. So put them on and hurry down."
"Bet your life," was chorused as the three tousled heads vanished.
The average midshipman's "shift" requires as a rule, about two minutes,
and passed-middies are no exception. Before it seemed possible three
bath-robed figures joined the girls, who had put their raincoats over
their bathing suits, and all slipped down to the little beach in front
of the cottage and struck out for the float anchored about fifty feet
off shore.
What a sight the bay and river presented that morning. Hundreds of
beautiful yachts, foregathered from every part of the world, for New
London makes a wonderful showing Regatta week, and flying the flags of
innumerable yacht clubs, were crowding the roadstead. A more inspiring
sight it would be difficult to imagine. Just beyond the float, and lying
between the Olympia and Navy Bungalow, the pretty little naptha launch
on which Captain Stewart's party were to be Captain Boynton's guests,
rode lightly at anchor, her bright work reflecting the sunlight, her
awning a-flutter, her signal pennant waving bravely.
"I've GOT to play I'm a porpoise. I've simply GOT to. Come on, Wheedles,
nothing else will work off my pent-up excitement," cried Polly, diving
off the float to tumble and turn over and over in the water very like
the fish she named, for Polly's training with Captain Pennell during the
winter had made her almost as much at home in the water as on land and
Peggy swam equally well.
While the young people were splashing about Mrs. Harold and Mrs. Howland
came out on the piazza to enjoy the sight.
For half an hour the five splashed, dove, and gamboled as carefree as
five young seals, and with as much freedom, then all hurried into the
bathhouses where Mammy and Jerome had already anticipated their needs by
hurrying down with a supply of necessary wearing apparel; a trifling
matter quite overlooked by the bathers themselves.
A gayer, heartier, more glowing group of young people than those
gathered at the breakfast table could not have been found in New London
or anywhere else; certainly not at the Griswold where the majority of
them were either satiated society girls whose winters had been spent in
a mad social whirl, or the blase city youths who at nineteen had already
found life "such a beastly bore."
"Gad," cried Neil Stewart, slapping Shortie's broad shoulders, "but it's
refreshing to find fellows of your age who can still show up such a glow
in their cheeks, and such a light in their eyes, and an enthusiasm so
infectious that it sets a-tingle every drop of blood in an old
kerfoozalem like me. Hang fast to it like grim death, for you'll never
get it back if you once lose it. That old school down there turns out
chaps who can get more out of the simple life than any bunch I know of.
It may be the simple life in some respects, but it's got a confounded
lot of hard work in it all the same, and when you've finished that
you're ready to take your fun, and you take it just as hard as you take
your work, and I don't want to see a better bunch of men than that
system shows. I was over at the hotel last night, talking with four or
five chaps, younger than you fellows here, and I swear it made me sick:
Bored to extinction doing nothing. I'd like to take 'em on board for
just about one month and if they didn't find something doing in a watch
or two I'd know why. Keep right on having your fun, you and the girls--
yes, GIRLS, not a lot of kids playing at being nerve-racked society
women."
"Hear! Hear!" cried Glenn Harold. "What's stirred you up, old man?"
"That bunch over yonder. Keep a little girl as long as you can Peggy,
and you, Polly, hold your present course. Who ever charted it for you
knew navigation all right."
"I guess mother began it and then turned the job over to Aunt Janet,
sir," answered Polly.
"Well, she knew her business all right. I'm mighty sorry she can't be
here today to see the race, but when she comes back from Northampton
she'll bring that other girl I'm so anxious to know too. By George, the
Rowland crowd puts up a good showing, and they seem to know how to
choose their messmates too, if I can judge by Hunter."
"Isn't he the dearest brother a girl ever had?" asked Polly
enthusiastically, for her love for her brother-in-law was a subject of
pleasurable comment to all who knew her.
"One of the best ever, as I hear on all sides," was Captain Stewart's
satisfactory answer. "But here comes Boynton. Ahoy! Olympia Ahoy!" he
shouted, hurrying out upon the piazza as a launch from the Olympia came
boiling "four bells" toward Navy Bungalow's dock, the white clad Jackies
looking particularly festive and Captain Boynton of the Olympia with
Commander Star of the Chicago sitting aft. They waved their caps gaily
and shouted in return.
"Glorious day! Great, isn't it?" as the launch ran alongside the dock
and friends hurried down to meet friends.
"We came over to see how early you could be ready. We must get up the
course in good season this afternoon in order to secure a vantage point.
Mrs. Boynton wants you all--yes--the whole bunch, to come over to the
Griswold for an early luncheon. Mrs. Star will be with her and we'll
shove off right afterward. Now NO protests," as Captain Stewart seemed
inclined to demur.
"All right. Your word goes. "We'll report for duty. What's the hour?"
"Twelve sharp. There's going to be an all-fired jam in that hotel but
Mrs. B. has a private dining-room ready for us and has bribed the head
waiter to a degree that has nearly proved my ruin. But never mind. We
can't see the Yale-Harvard race every day, and a month hence we'll be up
in Maine with all this fun behind us."
That luncheon was a jolly one. Captain Boynton had a daughter a little
younger than Peggy and Mr. Star a little girl of eight.
Promptly at two the party went down to the Griswold dock, gay with
excitement and a holiday crowd embarking in every sort of craft, all
bound for the course up the river. The naptha launch had been run
alongside the long Griswold pier and it did not take long for Captain
Boynton's party to scramble aboard. Captain Boynton, Captain Stewart and
the girls went forward, some of the boys making for the bow where the
outlook was enough to stir older and far more staid souls than any the
Frolic carried that day.
They cast off, and soon were making their fussy way in and out among the
hundreds of launches, yachts and craft of every known description.
The crew of the Frolic was a picked one, the coxswain, an experienced
hand, as was certainly required THAT day. The pretty launch was dressed
in all her bunting, and flying the flag of her club.
Through the mass of festive shipping the launch worked her way, guided
by the steady hand of the man at her wheel, his gray eyes alert for
every move on port or starboard.
Peggy and Polly were close beside him. Captain Stewart and Captain
Boynton stood a little behind watching the girls, whose eager eyes noted
every turn of the wheel. An odd light came into Captain Boynton's eyes
as he watched them. Presently he asked Peggy:
"Do you think you could handle a launch, little girl?"
"Why--perhaps I could--a little," answered Peggy modestly.
"Why, Peggy Stewart, there isn't a girl in Annapolis who can handle a
launch or a sailboat as YOU do," cried Polly, aroused to emphatic
protest.
Peggy blushed, and laughingly replied: "Only Polly Howland, the
Annapolis Co-Ed."
"Eh? What's that?" asked Captain Boynton.
"Oh, Polly has had a regular course in seamanship, Captain Boynton, and
knows just everything."
"Any more than YOU do, miss?" demanded Polly.
"Yes, lots," insisted Peggy.
"Well, I'll wager anything you could take this launch up the river as
easily as the coxswain is doing it," was Polly's excited statement.
"How's that, Stewart? Have you been teaching your girl navigation?"
"I hadn't a thing to do with it. It's all due to the good friends who
have been looking after her while I'VE been shooting up targets. But
Polly's right. She CAN handle a craft and so can this little redhead,"
laughed Captain Stewart, pulling a lock of Polly's hair which the
frolicsome wind had loosened.
"By Jove, let's test it. Not many girls can do that trick. Coxswain,
turn over the wheel to this young lady, but stand by in case you're
needed."
The coxswain looked a little doubtful, but answered: "Aye, aye, sir."
"Oh, ought I?" asked Peggy.
"Get busy, messmate," said Captain Boynton.
The next second the girl was transformed. Tossing her big hat aside and
giving her hair a quick brush, she laid firm hold upon the wheel and
instantly forgot all else. Her eyes narrowed to a focus which nothing
escaped, and Stewart gave a little nod of gratified pride and stepped
back a trifle to watch her. Captain Boynton's face showed his
appreciation and Polly's was radiant. The old coxswain muttered: "Well,
well, you get on to the trick of that, lassie. You might have served on
a man-o-war."
They were now well out in the river and making straight for the railway
bridge. Peggy alert and absorbed was watching the current as it swirled
beneath the arches. "How does the tide set in that middle arch,
coxswain?" she asked.
"Keep well to starboard, miss," he answered.
Peggy nodded, and gave an impatient little gesture as a lumbering power
boat, outward bound seemed inclined to cut across her course. "What ails
that blunderbuss? I have the right of way. Why doesn't he head inshore?"
and she signalled sharply on her siren to the landlubber evidently bent
upon running down everything in sight, and wrecking the tub he was
navigating. Then with a quick motion she flicked over her wheel and
rushed by, making as pretty a circle around him as the coxswain himself
could have made. "Holy smoke, but ye have given him the go-by in better
shape than I could myself. Whoever taught ye?"
"A navy captain down at Annapolis," answered Peggy, as she shot the
launch beneath the bridge.
"Well, he did the job all right, all right, and I may as well go back
and sit down. Faith, I thought we were as good as stove in when I handed
over the wheel to ye, but I'm thinking I can learn a fancy touch or two
myself."
"Oh, no, don't go. I don't know the river, you know, though I want to do
my best just to make Daddy proud of me," answered Peggy modestly.
"Well then he should be a-yellin' like them crazy loons yonder on the
observation train--that's what he should," nodded the coxswain.
Neil Stewart was not yelling, but he wasn't missing a thing, and
presently Peggy ran the launch into a clear bit of water near the three-
mile flag.
Bringing her around, she issued her orders, her mind too intent upon the
business in hand to be conscious that all on the launch had been
watching her with absorbing interest. Anchors were thrown over fore and
aft in order to hold the launch steady against the current, then turning
the wheel over to the admiring coxswain, Peggy wiped her hands upon her
handkerchief and holding out her right one to Captain Boynton, said:
"Thank you so much for letting me try. It was perfectly glorious to feel
her respond to every touch and thread her way through all that ruck."
"Thank me? Great Scott, child, you've done more for the whole outfit
than you guess. Stewart, my congratulations."
Poor Peggy was overcome, but the boys and Polly were alternately running
and praising her, every last one of them as proud as possible to call
Peggy Stewart chum.
But out yonder the shells were already in the water and the electric
spark of excitement had flashed from end to end of that long line of
gayly bedecked expectant yachts and launches, as down to them floated
the strains of the Yale boating song as it is never sung at any other
time, and thousands of eager eyes were peering along the course watching
for the first glimpse of the dots which would flash by to victory or
defeat.