Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/246

Rh is bored, he does more than any one else to make the trip interesting. Last night, for instance, before the boat was out an hour he had started the pools in the smoking-room and had the Anglo-American entente going on the high-speed clutch."

"And you, of course, felt it your duty to accelerate an alliance by buying a number?"

"No; worse—or better. I bought high field. The pool has separate numbers for the miles between two hundred and two hundred and thirty for the run since Southampton to noon to-day. Below that, low field wins, and above that, I win. And it really looks fair for me, doesn't it, with this weather?"

"It does indeed! And it's almost—why, it is past time to post the run now!"

"You forget that we are west bound. You haven't changed your time. Subtract half—"

Suddenly the whistle startled up all the deck with a single long blast.

"There! It is noon! Come!"

"Two hundred and forty-three miles!" 220