So Near So Far by Parkinson C. Northcote Page B

finally did so, engaging an idle youth called Jenkins who at any rate looked the part. Sir Roger was far from being a leading figure in society but he was Commodore of the Windermere Yacht Club and it was in this capacity that he had offered hospitality to Ravenglass, Lowther, and Delancey. Colonel Manning and two of his friends were at the Old England Inn at Bowness, next door to the Yacht Club premises. Before leaving London Delancey had heard that the schooner
Peggy
was already on the lake but he found on arrival that this was not entirely true. She was at Haverthwaite, having been brought ashore below Penny Bridge, and her further progress was slow. She was being manhandled on rollers by shrimp fishermen from Morecambe who were available only when prevented from fishing. Manning finally paid them extra to work on Sunday, hoping that the clergy would not come to hear of it. The total distance on rollers would not be much over four miles but the process was tedious and they did not have the road entirely to themselves. Sir Roger provided horses for his guests and Delancey rode with the others to see
Peggy
for the first time on the road beyond NewbyBridge. It was there that the two opponents, Manning and Delancey, were to meet. The Colonel was a man of indeterminate age, grey-haired, sallow-faced, with a permanently sad expression. He was friendly enough, as were his two companions, Major Forest and the Honourable Mr Stephen Fitch.
Peggy
was mounted on a cradle which rested in turn on six wooden rollers, four supporting the schooner at any given time, the other two rolled ahead and placed in position. There were 25 men in all, supervised by Mr Waller, Sir Roger’s Water Bailiff, who had once been a sergeant in the Marines.
    â€œHe served in America during the previous war and saw how things were done around Lake Champlain,” explained Sir Roger, and Waller certainly seemed to know what he was doing. Delancey watched the team’s progress with interest but was still more intent on
Peggy
herself. She was a fine boat, there could be no doubt of that, undecked but in beautiful order, covered for the time being by a tarpaulin. Her mast, sails, and cordage had gone ahead by wagon to a point near Staveley where the vessel was to be launched again.
    â€œI lost the toss,” said Manning, “and have to race in Lowther territory against people who know the lake.”
    â€œWe shall need some advantage,” replied Delancey, “if we are to keep level with
Peggy.
And you will have two local men in your crew.”
    â€œI know that I am allowed two local men but I shan’t have them. My crew have worked together for four years and I should be loath to leave any of them ashore. They are at Bowness now, using a borrowed craft so as to get the feel of the lake.”
    After dinner that afternoon Sir Roger spread a map on the dining table and explained how the race would be sailed.
    â€The lake divides almost equally into north and south, Belle Island forming the narrows here opposite Bowness. The probable course is from a start line just south of Belle Island to a flag buoy which you must round opposite Town Head, up the whole length of the lake to the Waterhead flag buoy below Ambleside, and so back again to the Ben Holm flag boat which is just north of here and marks the finish.”
    â€œWhat is the total distance?” asked Delancey.
    â€œEighteen miles,” replied Sir Roger. “We can do it in about two to three hours, given a fair wind. I believe the record stands at one hour and twenty-two minutes but that was under ideal conditions. We seldom race as early in the year as this, the club matches being sailed in June or July, often with a large crowd to watch the finish from the shore just north of Bowness. To race in April is to gamble on the weather but I know that you have a taste, Lord Ravenglass, for games of chance.”
    Ravenglass was a fair-haired man endowed with good looks