At last, however, when the damsel was departing, he plucked up courage to ask if he might try; and when she hesitated he said: "Fair damsel, worthiness and good deeds are not only in arrayment, but manhood and worship are hid within man's person." Then the poor knight took the sword by the girdle and sheath and drew it out easily.
And it was not until then that Sandy knew that he had had no dinner, and that the sun had climbed over to the other side of the steamer, and that a continual cheering was coming up from the deck below.
Cautiously he pulled back the canvas flap and emerged like the head of a turtle from his shell.

The bright sunshine dazzled him for a moment, then he saw a sight that sent the dreams flying.

There, just ahead, was the _Great Britain_ under full way, valiantly striving to hold her record against the oncoming steamer.
Sandy sat up and breathlessly watched the champion of the sea, her smoke-stacks black against the wide stretch of shining waters.

The Union Jack was flying in insolent security from her flagstaff.

There were many figures on deck, and her music was growing louder every minute.