"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?"