“We’ll take you on all right,” replied Roger Barns, with a genial laugh.
“And you steered exceedingly well, Jackson,” went on the coach, as the Fairview shell pulled off. “I was afraid you would spurt too soon, but you held yourself well in.”
“I was watching the other fellows,” said Jerry.
“That’s the way to do,” was the comment. “Now take it easy to the float.”
There was talk all through Randall that night of the performance of the eight.
“I think we have just the right crew now,” confided the coach to Dr. Churchill, when he went to dine with the venerable head of Randall.
“Ah, I am exceedingly glad to hear that. It will be a source of gratification to the alumni who have so generously provided for the racing material. And you say our boys nearly won from Fairview? How many innings did the game go? What was the score, and did Parsons pitch?”
“Ah—er—my dear Doctor,—er—we were talking about the crew,” said the coach, delicately.
“Oh, yes, so we were,” admitted the good doctor, in some confusion. “I was thinking of football, was I not? And so we have a good crew. Hum! Very well. I am so occupied with my translations of those Assyrian tablets that I fear my mind wanders at times.”
At times! Ah, Dr. Churchill, more often than “at times” did your mind wander! But what of that? It was keen enough on all occasions, though running in various channels, as many an old graduate will testify.