rs!" he commanded.

Eleven oars were raised upright, standing in two even rows.

"Well done, lads. Out oars!"

The oars struck the water with a single splash.

"I'd like to see any boat crew beat that for drill," announced the
coxswain. "Lads, if you do as well when we get in an actual race as
you have done to-day, barring Hickey's crab-fishing, you may not get
the flag, but you will be well up toward the head of the line, and
that's no joke. When in a race you should row just as if you were out
for practice. Never get excited. Never mind what the other fellow is
doing. The coxswain is supposed to attend to that. If he wants you to
know he will tell you. Put every other thought out of your mind except
your rowing. At every stroke keep your eyes on your stroke oar. We
will now take a sprint, when I shall give you no commands. Rely wholly
on your stroke oar."

At command the men began pulling. They did remarkably well, only two
of them getting out of time during the entire run, which was a mile
straight away.

"Very well done," announced the coxswain in an approving voice.
"Davis, will you take the stroke-oar seat?"

"Yes, sir; if you wish."

"I want to see how you will hold the seat."

Dan and the stroke oar changed places.

"I want you all to be familiar with the work in every part of the boat.
Stroke, I have no intention of displacing you permanently."

"I understand. That's all right, sir."

"How fast a stroke do you wish me to hit?" questioned Davis.

"About twenty to the minute. I thought you knew something about the
game. Let's see if you can hit twenty."

The coxswain took out his watch.

"All ready. Stand by. Give way together."

Dan bent far forward, allowing just enough time to elapse before
straightening his back to permit the other men to get into position.
Then every oar hit the water at the same instant and the gig started
away, but at a slightly lower speed than they had been rowing before.

"Minute's up. Exactly twenty strokes," announced the coxswain. "That
was fine. Where did you learn how to time a boat! Were you ever in a
race?"

"Not a big one, but I have watched the college crews practising. What
little I know I have just picked up; that's all."

"You're a mighty good picker-up, then, that's all I've got to say about
it," answered the coxswain, with a short laugh.

"The battleship is making signals, sir," spoke up Dan.

"How do you know?"

"I caught