Explore "On Time" by Oliver Optic on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The next port was Priam, eight miles distant; and the _Ucayga_ dashed merrily on her way, seeming to feel and rejoice in the responsibility which was imposed upon her. Certainly she was doing all that was expected of her. We were approaching the _Ruoara_; for that was the name of the old boat, though it was a misnomer now to her, for she did not deign to visit the town after which she was called. She was making her best time, which, however, was very poor time, compared with the new boat. Her captain was evidently hurrying her all he could. I made the signal with the steam-whistle, to indicate that the _Ucayga_ intended to pass her on the port hand.
I was not a little startled to see her put her helm to starboard, and crowd over upon our track, as though she intended to bother us. I took the wheel with Van Wolter, and when she had forced herself in ahead of us, I sounded the whistle to go on the starboard hand of her.