They had been so much interested in what they saw, and so much absorbed in the business that had brought them to Beech Hill, that they remained till the supper-bell rang. They were invited to remain to tea, and accepted the invitation. Afterwards they went out to Beechwater to see the students in the barges, who still practised with the oars every evening. By this time the rowing was almost perfect, even among the new pupils.
It was getting dark when the crew of the Winooski came from the boat-house. In the walk, Tom Topover was observed to pick up something; but, as he did not say he had found any thing, no further notice was taken of the fact. He went to the dormitory with the others, and a keen observer might have seen that he was a good deal elated about something. But Tom was as cunning now as he had ever been, though that is not saying much. It was a low cunning, and Tom believed he was at least ten times as smart as anybody considered him to be.
Kidd Digfield and Pell Sankland went to work upon their examples in arithmetic, which related to a practical subject; and they were interested in them. While they were at work, Tom and Nim Splugger paid them a visit. Although the bond which bound them together was not as strong as it had been, it still existed; and they associated more with each other than with the other students, though they were quite intimate with Bent Fillwing and Jack Dumper, who were regarded as two of the hardest characters among the recruits.
"I am spoiling for a good time," said Tom Topover, as he seated himself on the bed in Kidd's room.
"What kind of a time are you spoiling for?—such a one as we had last Saturday?" asked Kidd, who had been so seasick, that he did not remember the trial trip with much satisfaction.
"I didn't get seasick, and I had a good time," replied Tom. "But the thing was a little too stiff for me. There was too much officer about the whole thing to suit me. But I should like to take a trip in the Lily, and have it on our own hook."
"Do you believe you could handle her?" asked Pell.
"I know I could. I have learned to steer, for I had one trick at the wheel, and I have stood at the helm on board of the Sylph."
"But the steering is only a small part of handling a boat," suggested Kidd. "A fellow has to know what is under water as well as above it."
"I could take that schooner up to Rouse's Point—and that is as far as I ever went—as well as Captain Randolph," persisted Tom, with a good deal more spring in his manner than he had displayed of late.