it. Number two, the port
side. That's right. Number three, the starboard."

The boys had grown more tractable, and Uncle Ben succeeded in getting
them all in their proper places. The boat thus trimmed sat even on the
water, and the boys were delighted with this change in her position.
Most of them were wholly unaccustomed to boats, and the one-sided
posture gave them a sensation of uneasiness; but while they saw Uncle
Ben and some of the others feeling so secure, they did not like to
acknowledge their timidity.

"When you take the oars--not yet--don't be in a hurry. Do everything
calmly," said Uncle Ben. "You'll never larn anything if you don't go to
work shipshape."

"But what shall _I_ do?" asked Frank. "There are only twelve oars."

"Seat yourself square in the starn, my boy."

Frank obeyed, and Uncle Ben shipped the rudder. Instead of a tiller,
there was a short piece of wood, elegantly carved and gilded, which
extended crossways with the boat. At each end of it was fastened a
line, by means of which the rudder was moved.

"Take the tiller-ropes, Frank, and keep quiet till we get ready to give
way," said Uncle Ben, as he seated himself by the side of the young
coxswain.

"We are all ready," interposed Charles Hardy, by way of hurrying the
old sailor's movements.

The old man was not to be hurried; and when he saw what an excitement
the boys were in, he made them sit still, and not speak a word for two
minutes.

CHAPTER VII

GIVE WAY TOGETHER

"No hurry, boys; we've got the whole arternoon afore us," said the old
salt, when he had cooled them off. "You've got some things to larn. You
can't row yet no more'n a codfish can go up a ladder. You don't know
how."

"I think we can row, Uncle Ben," said Charles uneasily.

"I know you can't. If you don't want to larn, say so, and I'll make the
boat fast to the stake again," added the old boatman sharply, as though
he meant what he said.

"We do! We do!" protested the boys with one voice.

"Then be quiet, and keep your ear-ports wide open. The boy next to the
bow is the bowman. The stroke oarsman is the one farthest aft, or
nearest the starn. Each on 'em has a boat-hook. Now take 'em, and shove
her off."

The two boys obeyed, and placing the point of the boat-hooks against
the rock, shoved off with all their might; and the Zephyr receded from
the shore till the wind took her, and drove her out under the lee of
Centre Island. Here he directed Ton