“I guess I’ll slip in one of those singles and have a try at it,” remarked Boswell, starting for the dressing rooms to change into rowing costume.
“No, don’t, please—not just yet,” said Mr. Lighton. “I want to look them over first, to see if there are any flaws. You can take out one of the old ones.”
“Say, you don’t seem to want me to do anything in the boating line!” exclaimed the rich lad. “You shifted me out of the eight, and now you don’t want me to practice in a single. I tell you I know something about a boat—I’ve done as much work this Summer as those fellows,” and he indicated Tom and his three chums.
“That’s all right,” responded Mr. Lighton, quietly. “I’m not denying that, but I want you to understand that I did not shift you out of the eight without good reason, and there is still time for you to try to make good—even yet.”
“No, I’m going to stick to the single—and I’m going to win!” snapped Boswell.
“Good—I hope you do,” assented the coach. “Now, boys, we’ve got to get together, select a captain for the varsity, also the coxswain, as well as officials, and rowers for the other boats. It won’t do to go at this slip-shod fashion. What do you say to a meeting to-night to select the officials?”
“Good!” came the general cry, and then matters were talked over at length. As far as arrangements with Boxer Hall and Fairview were concerned, they had been practically completed in the Spring. All that remained was the selection of the day for the regatta, the marking of the course, the settlement of rules, which would be practically the same as those governing Boxer Hall and Fairview, and the selecting of the officials.
The other two colleges had very little to do to get ready for the races, but Randall had considerable. However, under the guidance of Mr. Lighton, affairs soon shaped up.
There was some wire-pulling in regard to the election of a varsity captain, but the choice eventually fell upon Frank Simpson, who pulled stroke. It met with general approval, for all liked the Big Californian, and no one who had been tried at stroke did anywhere nearly as well as did he. For coxswain the choice fell upon Jerry Jackson—in fact there was no opposition, for many who might have liked to try for it, felt that they were not equal to the responsibility. But Jerry seemed to fit in there naturally. He was just the right weight, Mr. Lighton said; he had a certain delicacy, yet firmness, in steering, and he could use judgment.