CHAPTER IV. THE CHESTERFIELDS HANG OUT THEIR BANNERS.
"Not a fellow will speak without orders," said Dory Dornwood, as the Winooski approached Sandy Beach.
The coxswain of the barge felt that a great responsibility rested upon him. He had no doubt the young gentlemen of the Chesterfield Collegiate Institute would indulge in epithets when they came within hail of the Beech Hill boat, for they never failed to do it whenever the opportunity was presented. Matt Randolph was still laying down the law to his crew, and the Gildrock was not within a mile of the little cove at the head of which was Sandy Beach.
If the crew of the Winooski retorted, as they were disposed to do, there would be a war of epithets, and the affair would not be likely to end without a fight. No one on board questioned the coxswain's pluck. Some of them called him a "conundrum," because they could not understand him.
Oscar Chester had the reputation of being the greatest fighting character in the school, though he had earned his name in other fields. Yet Dory had "knocked him out" in the twinkling of an eye. But the coxswain always did his best to avoid a quarrel of any sort, and never bullied or crowded anyone.
Now he would not allow his crew to retaliate upon the Chesterfields, whatever they said, or however abusive they became. The crew of the second class boat had never seen a fellow like him. But he had proved that he was able to take care of himself and of them, and they were disposed to follow his lead.
The three boats were approaching the cove, the course of the Winooski being at right angles with that of the Institute boats. They were now near enough to enable Dory to take the measure of the rival craft, and their crews. Under the lee of the west shore the water was quite smooth, so that the Chesterfields had no sea to contend against.