CHAPTER XI.
A MATTER OF SPECULATION.
Frank spent an hour every afternoon in the gymnasium, where he took such exercise as he considered best, always spending at least a few minutes of the time on one of the rowing machines.
A great deal of speculation had been aroused by Bob Collingwood's determination to take Merriwell upon the 'varsity crew.
It was known that Collingwood was a thorough believer in the American oar and American stroke as opposed to the shorter-bladed Oxford oar and the longer English stroke.
Collingwood had ever seemed thoroughly satisfied with Yale methods, and he had expressed his scorn of the Oxford method of placing the seats on alternate sides of the boat.
It was generally presumed that Frank Merriwell was thoroughly English in his ideas and beliefs, and it was thought that he was altogether too set to give
up what he fancied was right, even though he might get on the crew by so doing.
Still some one had been forced to give in, and there was much speculation about it. Then came the rumor that Yale was to have an English coach, and the tongues of the gossips began to wag furiously.
"It's a great triumph for Frank Merriwell!" cried Danny Griswold to a party of friends gathered in the gym.