who had watched the
angry looks and heard the angry voices of the speakers.

"Bravo! fight it out!" cried some one, and the news that there was a
quarrel in the schoolhouse boat added greatly to the zest of the
critics' enjoyment.

Fairbairn's caution--whether purposely, or because he could not help
it--was lost upon the offending bow oar. The boat had scarcely started
again when Gilks caught another crab, which for the moment nearly upset
the crew. Fairbairn rowed on, with thunder in his face, regardless of
the incident, and Riddell kept as straight a course as he could, despite
the unsteadiness. In due time the unsatisfactory practice came to an
end, and the crew stood together again on the steps of the boat-house.

Gilks seemed to expect, and every one else expected, that Fairbairn
would once more take the defaulter to task for his performance that
morning, and Fairbairn did not disappoint him; though he dealt with the
matter in a rather unexpected manner.

"I shall want the tub-pair after third school," said he to the boatman.
"Riddell, will you come and cox. Crossfield and me?"

"Who--Crossfield?" asked Coates.

"Yes; I shall try him for bow."

"You mean to say," exclaimed Gilks, taking the matter in, "you're going
to turn me out of the boat?"

"Certainly," said Fairbairn, coolly.

"What for?" demanded Gilks, threateningly.

"Because," replied Fairbairn, taking Riddell's arm and walking slowly
off--"because we can do better without you."

Gilks stared at him a moment as though he meditated flying at him. If
he did, he thought better of it, and turned away, muttering to himself
that he would pay them all out, let them see if he did not.

Threats of this sort were not unheard-of things from Gilks, and no one
was greatly disturbed by them. On the whole, Fairbairn's decision was
approved of by most of the schoolhouse partisans, particularly those who
had watched the proceedings of the morning. A few thought Gilks might
have been accorded a second chance, but the majority argued that if a
fellow caught crabs like that in a practice he would probably do it in
the race, and they did not want the risk of that.

As to his excuse about the steering, every one who knew anything about
that knew it meant nothing, and Gilks did not repeat it.

As he reached the school Silk met him with angry looks.

"Is it true what I hear," said he, "that you're out of the boat?"

"Yes, it is," growled Gilks.

"Why,