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Read Ebook: Square and Compasses; Or Building the House by Optic Oliver Sheppard William Ludwell Illustrator
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Ebook has 1378 lines and 61989 words, and 28 pages
"Don't let them beat us, Dory," added Ned Bellows, on the next thwart.
"They have been getting ready to whip us," said Dick Short. "They have been at work by themselves for the last week."
"They have got about all the older and stouter fellows in the school, and we must expect that they will beat us sometimes," replied Dory philosophically. "But we have also been in training, and if they beat us they have got to work for it."
"But they are beating us!" exclaimed Life, as he got another glance at the Gildrock. "Matt Randolph has been putting in some extra New York touches, and it is all up with us."
"Not yet," answered Dory quietly. "We have been taking it easy, and they have been using their muscle. Wait a little."
"No talking in the boat, if you please, fellows," the coxswain interposed, and the grumbling ceased.
Dory could see that the Gildrocks were straining themselves to run away from the Winooski. The first class fellows were not so far off that he could not read the expression of their faces, and see the smiles of satisfaction with which they regarded their advantage. He permitted them to enjoy their victory, as they evidently regarded it, until they were at least twenty-five lengths ahead. Matt Randolph frequently looked behind him to note the position of his rival.
All at once the oars of the Gildrock ceased to move, but every blade was in proper position. Then came three rousing cheers from her crew, with a tiger at the end. This was certainly crowing over the victory: The Winooskis, except the coxswain, were vexed, and even angry. Some of them began to grumble again; but Dory laughed, and called for silence in the boat. The crew obeyed the order, for they had come to believe that Dory knew what he was about "every time."
His crew soon knew what he was about, for he straightened up his wiry little frame, and then began to sway it back and forward to regulate the stroke of the rowers. In a few minutes every muscle was strained up to its utmost tension. The Winooski began to fly through the water. There was quite a smart sea on the lake, which Dory took into account, and humored the boat as it met the waves.
The Gildrocks saw what Dory was doing, and Matt set his crew on the strain again. At the end of a quarter of an hour the Gildrock was less than a length ahead. The crew of the first class boat were in a terrible state of excitement. They could see the other boat, and the effect upon them was bad when the Winooski began to gain on them. The Gildrocks were demoralized.
In three minutes more the Winooski had passed the other barge.
"Stand by to toss!" said Dory quietly.
The complimentary salute was given, but the coxswain declined to call for three cheers.
DORY DORNWOOD ARGUES THE QUESTION.
"How did we do it, Dory?" asked Life Windham, utterly astonished at the result of the impromptu race, as were all the other members of the crew.
"We did it by minding our own business," replied the coxswain, as much pleased as though he had won a rich prize.
"Can't we give them three cheers, Dory?" inquired Ben Ludlow.
"No cheers, fellows," replied Dory, shaking his head to emphasize his decision.
"But the Gildrocks cheered when they got ahead of us," suggested Ben Ludlow.
"No matter if they did; it was bad taste, and they crowed before they were out of the woods."
"But I don't understand how it was that we happened to beat them," persisted Life Windham. "As you said, they have most of the older and stouter fellows in their crew."
"They ought to beat us every time," added Ned Bellows.
"Age and strength alone won't make the best rowers," replied Dory sagely. "Some of the fellows in the other boat are rather heavy and clumsy, and, without boasting, I believe they have not got the knack of rowing well yet."
"Do you think we have got the knack, Dory?" asked Phil Gawner.
"I think we have got it better than the fellows in the other boat, though we have a good deal to learn yet. You have more spring, elasticity, than the other fellows. But, fellows, we beat them by discipline. You grumble because I don't want you to talk and look behind you; but you obeyed orders, and that's what did the business."
"The first class fellows didn't talk or look behind them," said Life.
"They had no occasion to look behind them, for they could see our boat without," replied the coxswain. "When they saw us gaining on them they were excited, and in a little while they got demoralized. You couldn't see them, and you did your very best."
"Matt Randolph is making a speech at them," said Dick Short, laughing.
"He knows why he was beaten, and he is telling his crew about it," added Dory.
The coxswain of the Gildrock was certainly talking as though he "meant business," for his words and his gestures were very earnest. He and Dory had talked about the subject upon which Matt was at this moment eloquent. Both agreed that if all the oarsmen could be blindfolded they would do better in a race. It was the province of discipline to keep them unmindful of success or defeat.
"Stand by to lay on your oars!" called Dory suddenly, while his crew were still watching the gesticulations of Matt Randolph.
The crew of the Winooski, who had been pulling very leisurely for some minutes, gave attention to their officer at once.
"Oars!" added Dory: and, the moment he gave the word, the oars were levelled at right angles with the length of the boat, with the blades feathered.
All the crew looked at the coxswain, wondering what was coming, for they had taken a rest after the Gildrock was beaten, and were not in need of another. This was the usual position of the crew when the officer had anything to say, or any announcement to make.
"Now you may look behind you, if you wish," continued Dory, with a meaning smile.
Every rower believed there was something to be seen, or the permission would not have been given, and they all availed themselves of the opportunity.
"The kid-glovers afloat!" shouted Thad Glovering, in the bow.
"Gentility on the wave!" exclaimed Life Windham.
"The dudes in the spray!" added Jim Alburgh.
"The exquisites on a racket!" cried Nat Long.
"Dandies on the brine!" chuckled Ben Ludlow.
"Fresh-water brine," added Dory.
"They are pulling towards Sandy Beach," said Corny Minkfield.
All these sarcastic remarks were called forth by the appearance ahead of two barges, similar to those belonging to the Beech Hill school. They were very gaily painted, and, whatever their merits for speed and ability, they were quite as handsome as the Gildrock and Winooski.
"Twig the uniform!" exclaimed Ned Bellows.
"But that's only a boat uniform," replied Life Windham, who was one of the incipient rebels. "None of our fellows object to the uniform they wear on board of the Sylph."
The uniform of the Chesterfields--for there was no doubt as to the identity of the occupants of the barges--was blue flannel, trimmed with white. It was very fanciful, and rather a sensational costume.
"I suppose every one of them wears an eyeglass, and has a cane under his thwart," laughed Phil Gawner.
"And every one parts his hair in the middle, so as to keep the boats on an even keel," added Lick Milton.
"Anything more?" inquired Dory.
"I wonder if they row in kid gloves," said Ben Ludlow.
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