"Get these few motions right and you have the whole groundwork of rowing," went on Roger. "Forward, dip, pull, lift; forward, dip, pull, lift; forward, dip, pull, lift. Keep that up and you have the thing done. One, two, three, four; one, two, three, four."
The new crew pulled vigorously for some distance until Roger commanded a rest.
"Pull your oar in way across the boat and push it down until the handle catches in the ribs of the opposite side," he directed, "or turn the blade toward the bow and run the handle under the seat before you. Then it won't slip out of the rowlock and sail off, leaving you to wait until somebody happens along to pick you up. You might have to wait some time."
"How are we going to turn round?" Ethel Brown asked when they were rested.
"Pull one oar and the boat will turn away from the side of that oar. You pull, Ethel Blue. See it turn?"
"It's mighty slow work," puffed Ethel Blue.
"And a huge big circle you're making," laughed Roger. "Ethel Brown can help you by backing water."
"How do I do that?"
"It's the exact opposite of regular pulling. That is, dip your oar into the water first and then push your arms and body forward. Do you see? That makes the boat go stern first instead of bow first. Here's your count; dip, push, lift, pull; dip, push, lift, pull."
The two girls tried it together and the boat soon was going backward as fast as they had previously made it go forward.