ross the boat," the instructor
explained. "If the boat were at a landing, or alongside another boat,
the two bowmen and the two stroke oarsmen would not do as the others
do; for it would be their duty to shove off, and get the boat under
way. Now you may try it; but don't hurry. Give the order again, Frank.
Stand up this time, so that you can see the whole length of the boat."

The coxswain rose from his seat; and having no little natural dignity,
he did it very gracefully, and was not at all flurried.

"Up oars!" said he very slowly, pausing between the words.

All hands made a dive, as it were, at the oars, and stood them up as
required. But they hit each other in the back, rapped others on the
head, elevated the oars so that there was neither order nor symmetry in
the movement, and they were straggling as many different ways as there
were boys.

"Avast there! That won't do at all!" shouted Uncle Ben. "You are all
snarled up, and we must have it done shipshape."

He seated himself on the after thwart, after he had required them to
boat their oars, and proceeded to show them how to pick them up. He
went forward, and repeated the movement. Then he made several of them
do it alone. Next four of them did it together. At last he believed he
had them in condition to execute the manoeuvre properly. Then he
called upon Frank to give the order again, and this time they did it as
well as could be expected. He was not satisfied, and compelled the
oarsmen to go through it repeatedly for half an hour.

"Now we will begin again," said Uncle Ben. "If you do it well, we will
go on. Give the order, Frank."

They did it better than at any time before; and while the crew sat with
the oars elevated, the old sailor proceeded to explain the next
movement.

"If we were at a landing, or alongside the sailboat, you would remain
as you be now, till the boat was clear of everything, before the next
order would come. That command will be 'Let fall!' Then you will let
your oars drop upon the water all at once, striking it at just the same
instant. But you will not let the loom of the oar touch the gunwale."

"Where is the gunwale?" asked one of the boys.

"The rail along the top of the boat in which the rowlocks are set. You
mustn't let an oar touch that. Keep hold of the handle with the blade
on the water. Then, without any command, you will ship the oar; in
other words, drop the loom into the rowlock. Now go through that again.
Stea