She did not tack as handsomely as she had at the other end of the little lake, for the wind was baffling behind the woods on the shore; but she got about with a little humoring. Captain Gildrock smiled, and shook his head, as he looked at Captain Randolph.
"Didn't I do it right, sir?" asked Matt, when he saw that what he had done was not approved, though it was not condemned.
"Perfectly right, so far as handling the schooner is concerned. But you made it possible that we might require the services of the Sylph to assist in getting her off a mud bank," replied the principal, tempering his remark with a smile again.
"I thought I had room enough to go in stays," pleaded the captain of the Lily.
"So you had, so far as the schooner is concerned; but you had to humor her in stays, for the wind was unsteady and puffy."
"Of course it was! What could you expect in such a place in the woods? There is little wind enough anywhere on Beechwater, but there is less among the trees than in the open water. The principal trouble with boys is that they will run risks. They want to cut a hair off at every corner. They think a young fellow can't be a good boatman unless he takes risks; and, the greater the risk, the better the boatman, in his estimation," continued the principal, in a low tone, so that none of the other students could hear him.
"I didn't think I was taking any risk," added Matt.
"You took the risk of getting aground between two puffs, and nothing but the current of the stream saved you from it," replied Captain Gildrock. "I believe in taking a risk when there is need of it, but never for mere sport, or to show that one is a skilful boatman."
"I am much obliged to you, sir, for speaking to me about it," replied Matt, who did not regard himself as censured; for the principal had a way of condemning an act without hurting the self-respect of the actor.
"I have said it a great many times in school, and in the various craft, that we should take no unnecessary risks. I believe that nearly the whole of the boating accidents result from carelessness. There is no reason why a good boat should not stay on the top of the water, even in a gale of wind. If the boat is a good one,—and it is a risk to go on the water in any other,—she will float on any sea."