“You would not have believed there was such a boat, to say nothing of two of them, if you had been told about it,” said Dave Windsor mischievously.
“I believe in them both now,” replied Will. “Do you suppose they are for us?”
“I think they must be. I don’t believe there is any other concern in these parts that would have any use for such boats,” added Dave.
“My lads, here are two new pupils, from the city of New York. I hope you will give them a cordial welcome, and make things pleasant, for them,” said the captain, interrupting the comments of the boys on the boats.
“Hurrah for the New-Yorkers!” shouted Ben Ludlow; and three lusty cheers were given in response to the captain’s introduction of the new boys.
“This is Luke Bennington, and his father is a shipbuilder. He knows a ship from a cooking-stove, and can give you all points in boating. The other is Matt Randolph, whose father is captain of an ocean-steamer; and he can do any thing in a yacht except splice the main-brace.”
The two boys began to bow as they were introduced, and kept it up until the principal ceased. Then they went in among the boys, and began to shake hands with them, and to make themselves acquainted.
“What about those boats, Captain Gildrock?” called Bob Swanton, after he had met the new-comers.
“Those are twelve-oar barges such as they use in the navy. They are single banked, and will accommodate nine persons in the stern-sheet,” replied the captain. “They were built in New-York City especially for the Beech-Hill Industrial School. I expected to have had them a week ago, but they were not finished. Luke Bennington and Matt Randolph came up in charge of them. Now, if you are ready, we will put them into the water.”
The barges were unloaded, and conveyed to the lake. As soon as they were in the water, the students gave the usual three cheers. Of course, they were not satisfied until they were seated in them; and there were now just students enough to man them, without any coxswains. They pulled off to the steamer, towing the other boats. The boys were sorry to get out of them so soon, but there was no more than time to reach the school before six o’clock.