“No more boating for these boys at present,” said the principal, as he stepped into the Goldwing. “They can neither sail a boat nor row
one. Who is sailing that boat now, Dory? He is doing better than has been done with her before this afternoon.”
“Oscar Chester is in charge of her. He has been sailing with me in the schooner; and, as far as he has gone, he knows how to do it,” replied Dory.
“It will be impossible to keep them out of the boats; and the pupils must be taught at once how to row, and how to handle a sailboat,” continued the captain, as he glanced at the rowing of the party in the four-oar boat. “When I saw that sloop-boat go over, I thought that the first day of our school was to end in a disaster. I am thankful that no one lost his life. But no one shall go out of Beech Lake again in a sailboat unless there is a skipper on board.”
Dick Short welcomed the boys back to the school-grounds. He had made up the lost lesson, and was as good-natured as though he had not been punished. Before breakfast the next morning, the boys all walked over to the beach in the little lake, and went into the water. In the evening a great deal had been said about learning to swim. It was found that only eight boys out of
the twenty-two could swim a stroke. Dory and Harry Franklin were appointed instructors in this department; and they were to have a lesson every day, when the weather was suitable.
Some pieces of plank were obtained at the lumber-shed, and conveyed to the beach. Holding these floats with their hands, some of the boys ventured out into deep water. The first thing was to obtain the necessary confidence. They were told how to move their feet in the operation, and the first trials were very satisfactory.
The schoolroom exercises of the forenoon were about the same as the day before. The boys all felt that their learning was to be of the most practical kind, such as would help them in the business of life. All education does this, but all boys cannot realize it.
The first business of the afternoon with the second class was to put up the shelves they had made the day before. Of course, the boys had to go through a great many forms that were useless to experienced workmen.
“Now, my lads, we are to nail the shelves to the brackets,” said Mr. Brookbine. “To do this correctly will be a nicer job than you have yet done;