heavy, too clumsy, too nervous. But Fairbairn was loth to give up his
idea; so he went to Mr Parrett, and asked him if he would mind running
with the schoolhouse pair-oar during the next morning's spin, and
watching the steering of the new captain. Mr Parrett did so; and was
not a little pleased with the performance, but advised Fairbairn to try
him in the four-oar before deciding.

Fairbairn, delighted, immediately broached the subject to his friend.
Poor Riddell was astounded at such a notion.

_He_ cox the schoolhouse boat in the regatta!

"My dear fellow," said he to Fairbairn. "I'm not a very exalted
personage in Willoughby as it is--but this would be the finishing
stroke!"

"What do you mean--that it's _infra dig._ to cox the boat?"

"Oh no!" said Riddell, "anything but that. But it might be _infra dig._
for the boat to be steered into the bank in the middle of the race."

"Humbug, if that's your only reason. Anyhow, old man, come down and try
your hand in the four to-morrow morning."

Riddell protested that the idea was absurd, and that he wouldn't hear of
it. But Fairbairn reasoned him down. He hadn't steered them into the
bank since the second morning--he hadn't tried steering the four-oar,
how did he know he couldn't do it? Mr Parrett had advised the trial
strongly, and so on.

"No," said he, "the only question is your weight. You'd have to run off
a bit of that, you know."

"Oh," said Riddell, "as to that, you can take as many pounds off me as
you like; but--"

"None of your buts, old man," said Fairbairn. "I say, if we only were
to win, with you as cox, what a score it would be!"

"None of your `ifs,' old man," said Riddell, laughing. "But I'll come
to-morrow, if you are determined to have your way."

"Of course I am," said Fairbairn.

This conversation took place the evening that young Wyndham was taking
tea with Silk and Gilks in the study of the former.

The intelligence that the new captain was to be taken out to steer the
schoolhouse boat mysteriously got wind before the evening was over, and
spread over the school like wildfire. Consequently, when Riddell
arrived at the boat-house in the morning, he was surprised and horrified
to find that nearly all Willoughby was awake and down at the river banks
to see him.

It was embarrassing certainly, and when presently the crew got into
their seats and a start was made, it became evident the new coxswain was
anything but at home