THE NEW SHELLS
"Say, aren't they beauts!"
"All to the cream!"
"Nothing like 'em ever seen on this river before!"
"And look at the eight! Isn't that a peach?"
"Easy there, Housenlager, that isn't a ferry-boat!" and Jerry Jackson
kept the big lad from stepping into the new eight-oared shell. The other
exclamations, as may easily be surmised, came from the college lads as
they gathered about the new float and boathouse, in front of which were
the new craft that had been put in the water that day. It was a week or
so after the opening of Randall, and matters were shaping themselves up
in some kind of order.
"Two fours, four singles, two doubles and the eight!" remarked Tom.
"Say, that committee of old grads certainly did themselves proud all
right!"
"They sure did," agreed Sid.
"And this boathouse can't be beat!" added Phil, as he and the others
inspected the new structure.
"I only hope that same thing applies to our boats," remarked the Big
Californian, grimly. "There'll be something coming to us if they can't
be beaten."
"Let's get in and have a trial," suggested Sid. "Come, we've got enough
for two eights--one crew in the old shell and one in the new. We'll find
out if she's stiff enough."
"Better wait until Mr. Lighton gives the word," suggested Tom. "They'll
want to soak up a bit, anyhow, being new; and our weight might open up
the seams too much."
In fact the boats had only been in the water since that morning, a
committee of the rowing association superintending their removal from
the freight station on trucks.
The letter announcing that they were on their way had been received
some little time before, and the advent of the rowing craft was eagerly
waited. Then had come a simple ceremony, when a committee of the
presenting graduates had formally turned over the boathouse and outfit
to Randall College.
"Well, we'll have to organize soon, pick out a coxswain and captain, and
arrange for hard training," said Tom.
"Yes, there isn't much time between now and the football season,"
agreed Frank. "Boxer Hall and Fairview will want to wind up the rowing
game as early as they can. It's been a double drill for them, since they
raced in the Spring. Next Spring we'll get in the game with them."
"Here comes Mr. Lighton," suggested Sid. "Maybe he'll have something to
say," and he indicated the coach coming down toward the boathouse.
"Well, boys, how do you like them?" asked Mr. Lighton, as he indicated
the new craft.
"Swell!"
"Peachy!"
"Pippy!"
These were only a sample of the many expressions of approval.
"I guess I'll slip in one of those singles and have a try at it,"
remarked Boswell, starting for the dressing rooms to change into rowing
costume.
"No, don't, please--not just yet," said Mr. Lighton. "I want to look
them over first, to see if there are any flaws. You can take out one of
the old ones."
"Say, you don't seem to want me to do anything in the boating line!"
exclaimed the rich lad. "You shifted me out of the eight, and now you
don't want me to practice in a single. I tell you I know something about
a boat--I've done as much work this Summer as those fellows," and he
indicated Tom and his three chums.
"That's all right," responded Mr. Lighton, quietly. "I'm not denying
that, but I want you to understand that I did not shift you out of the
eight without good reason, and there is still time for you to try to
make good--even yet."
"No, I'm going to stick to the single--and I'm going to win!" snapped
Boswell.
"Good--I hope you do," assented the coach. "Now, boys, we've got to get
together, select a captain for the varsity, also the coxswain, as well
as officials, and rowers for the other boats. It won't do to go at this
slip-shod fashion. What do you say to a meeting to-night to select the
officials?"
"Good!" came the general cry, and then matters were talked over at
length. As far as arrangements with Boxer Hall and Fairview were
concerned, they had been practically completed in the Spring. All that
remained was the selection of the day for the regatta, the marking of
the course, the settlement of rules, which would be practically the same
as those governing Boxer Hall and Fairview, and the selecting of the
officials.
The other two colleges had very little to do to get ready for the
races, but Randall had considerable. However, under the guidance of Mr.
Lighton, affairs soon shaped up.
There was some wire-pulling in regard to the election of a varsity
captain, but the choice eventually fell upon Frank Simpson, who pulled
stroke. It met with general approval, for all liked the Big Californian,
and no one who had been tried at stroke did anywhere nearly as well as
did he. For coxswain the choice fell upon Jerry Jackson--in fact there
was no opposition, for many who might have liked to try for it, felt
that they were not equal to the responsibility. But Jerry seemed to fit
in there naturally. He was just the right weight, Mr. Lighton said; he
had a certain delicacy, yet firmness, in steering, and he could use
judgment.
As for the singles, their disposition was simple. A number of lads
signified their desire to enter into a competition among themselves, the
best to be picked to meet Boxer Hall and Fairview contestants. Boswell
was to be one who would enter the elimination trials, and he accepted
the responsibility with an air of confidence that caused much secret
amusement, and no little disgust. Snail Looper also expressed a desire
to try, as did a number of others.
In the doubles a number of new lads, with whom we are not immediately
concerned, entered, and as for the fours, some juniors and sophomores,
together with a few freshmen, made up three combinations, the best one
of which was to meet the rivals.
"As for the eight," said Mr. Lighton, "which craft, in a measure will
be regarded as the main varsity boat, we now have two crafts--the old
one and the new. I suggest that there be elimination trials, and several
friendly races between the two crews.
"In this way not only will you get practice, but you will have
experience in pulling against another boat, which will stand you in good
stead.
"I have also to announce that Mr. Pierson, whom some of you know as the
old Cornell oarsman, has kindly consented to help me in coaching you. We
will draw up a set of training rules, and I expect every man to follow
them faithfully. Otherwise there is no use in going into this thing.
Remember the condition of this magnificent gift to Randall was that she
should prove herself a victor."
"And she will!" cried Tom, while the others echoed his words.
There remained a few other preliminaries to arrange, and minor officials
to select, and then the meeting of the athletic committee ended.
"Oh, I say!" cried Phil, at the conclusion. "I wonder if it's too late
to go see the girls?"
"Guess not," agreed Tom. "I'm with you."
"Same here," echoed Frank and Phil, and they hurried to catch a trolley
for Fairview Institute.
As they walked up the steps to the building where the young ladies were
permitted to receive visitors, they saw a lad standing there. Just as
Tom was about to ring the bell, the door opened, and a maid announced to
the waiting lad:
"Miss Clinton can see no one."
"She is out, do you mean?"
"I do not know. That was the message Miss Philock told me to give you."
"Oh, all right," and, turning so that the light from the hall shone on
his face, the countenance of Boswell was disclosed to our friends.
"Oh!" he exclaimed blankly, as he recognized them. Then looking at Tom
he added:
"Perhaps you'll have better luck than I did, Parsons!"
"Perhaps," admitted Tom, drily.