CHAPTER IV.
THE SCHOONER £BBA.

IT was only the next day, and without any signs of haste,
that the £4éa began her preparations. From the end of
the Newburn pier, the crew might be seen, after the deck
was washed, freeing the sails from their coverings under
the boatswain’s direction, casting off the gaskets, clearing
the gear, hauling up the boats, with a view to setting sail.

At eight o’clock in the morning the Count had not yet
appeared. His companion Serko, the engineer—as he
was called on board—had not yet left his cabin. As for
the Captain, he was busy giving various orders to the
sailors which indicated an immediate departure.

The £éda was a yacht admirably adapted for racing,
although she had never figured in the North American or
British races. The tall masts, surface breadth of canvas,
the length of her yards, her draught which gave her great
stability even when covered with canvas, her clearly defined
water lines, denoted a rapid, seaworthy vessel, capable of
contending with the worst weather.

Indeed, the schooner £d0a could easily do her twelve
miles an hour in a strong breeze close to the wind.

Of course sailing vessels are always dependent on the