“There isn’t any reason why you should, but there is no telling when such experts in rowing as Jack, take a hand,” said Mrs. Davis.
George, John and Jack were already in the boat, but there was but one pair of oar-locks and one set of oars, so only one could row. Seeing that Jack’s mother presented the boat, George relinquished his prerogative as commander-in-chief, and sat down to watch his cousin row.
In spite of Jack’s explanation that all you did was “to just pull back and forth,” it seemed difficult to move the boat in the right direction. After many futile attempts, he turned over the oars for George to try.
The ladies stood on the bank laughing at the general’s failure to row properly, and then John also failed.
“Do you girls want to try?” asked Mrs. Davis.
Jim stood by grinning delightedly at the boys in the boat, but not daring to hope that he would ever be invited to row. Martha saw his intense attitude and whispered to her mother, “Let’s ask Jim if he wants to try?”
Mrs. Parke nodded smilingly. “Jim, do you want to try and see if you can move the boat?”
With a start of amazed joy, the “rank and file” of the American army stuttered and stammered that it would!
George and Jack jumped out, leaving John in the prow, and then Jim climbed in. He turned and said: “Does de lady officers wanta come in?”
“Not till you have your trial, Jim. Then they are going to try, too,” replied Mrs. Parke.