Fond Mother (full of war news). "Don't go too far out, girls. You can't be too careful with all this fighting going on."
II.—The Island Cup Race.
Cowes week was drawing near to its brilliant climax. Through the blue waters of the Solent a swarm of palatial steam yachts, saucy outriggers, graceful cutters and wasp-like motor boats jostled one another in their efforts to gain safe anchorage after the strenuous excitement of the day's racing. Everywhere could be heard the clank of mooring chains, mingled with the full-flavoured oaths of sailor men.
Gradually silence fell upon the scene, broken only by the melodious murmur of numberless gramophones and the soft strains of the band of the Royal Yacht Squadron.
As the sun descended lower beneath the horizon the dusk deepened, and presently thousands of Chinese lanterns twinkled through the gloom from mast and yard-arm. Lady Margaret Tamerton, leaning idly against the barnacle of her brother's yacht, the Seamaid, drank in the beauty of the night with deep inhalations.
The voice of young Lord Tamerton at her side at last broke the spell of silence.
"Madge," he said softly, "Wonderson has not yet arrived. If he doesn't come, our chances of winning the Island Cup to-morrow are practically hopeless."
"Don't worry, Fred," replied Lady Margaret. "Ralph never fails... Listen, he is coming now."
And, indeed, the muffled beat of oars was heard approaching from the darkness. Soon a slim white boat came gliding up to the power of the Seamaid. Ralph Wonderson, a tall athletic figure in his immaculate flannels and straw boater, poised himself on the gunwale, gathered himself for a spring, and leaped with the agility of a cat to the bowsprit of the yacht. Sliding rapidly down this, he nodded easily to Lord Tamerton and clasped the beautiful figure of Lady Margaret in his arms.
"S-sh!" he whispered warningly, laying his fingers on her lips, as she would have spoken. "Nobody must know I am here till to-morrow. That is why I came aboard like that. Listen. Your cousin, Sir Ernest Scrivener, alias Marmaduke Moorsdyke, is here, and is plotting to kidnap you. There is a traitor somewhere on this yacht who supplies him with all information. The attempt is to be made to-night."
"To-night!" murmured Lady Margaret in horror. "What am I to do? His ingenuity is dev—er—fiendish."
"It shall be baffled," replied Ralph reassuringly. "I have thought it all out. It would be dangerous for you to leave the yacht because, in view of to-morrow's race, neither your brother nor I could accompany you. There is only one place on board where you can pass the night in assured safety—the crow's nest."
"The crow's—nest," repeated Lady Margaret, clapping her hands. "What fun! I shall be rocket to sleep beautifully, and of course they will never think of looking for me there."
"Come," said Ralph, taking her hand. "There is no time to lsoe, and none of the crew must be allowed to see you. We don't know whom we can trust."
Snatching her in his arms, he carried her easily up the frail rigging, his mountain training showing in every step he took. Five minutes later he returned alone and dropped noiselessly to the deck. He looked round cautiously; there was nobody in view except Lord Tamerton.
"It's all right, Fred," he whispered. "Let us turn in."
The descended the broad staircase arm-in-arm. No sooner had they disappeared than a dark figure crept with a low chuckle from underneath a coil of rope and dropped silently over the yacht's counter.
A phosphorescent gleam disturbed the darkness of the water.
*****
Early next morning Ralph Wonderson ran nimbly up the rigging of the Seamaid, carrying a tray loaded with
