Tossing the oars is a complimentary naval salute; and Dory was determined to treat the young gentlemen of the Collegiate Institute politely, whether they deserved it or not. Probably the crew of the Winooski did not relish this idea of "turning the other cheek also," but they had promised to obey orders, and they meant to do it this time, if it killed them.
"Toss!" added Dory, at the proper time; and the twelve oars went into the air as though the oarsmen were in love with the Chesterfields.
"The Greasers are showing off!" exclaimed some one in the leading barge.
"Set them up again!" cried another.
"Let fall!" said Dory, giving no heed to the shouts.
The oars dropped into the water all as one, and Dory added the order to give way.
"They don't understand the salute," said the coxswain, as the boys resumed their stroke with as much precision as though there had been nothing to divert their attention.
The steady pulling on board of the Winooski set her into the cove some distance ahead of the two barges, and by this time the crew could see the occupants of the other craft without breaking the rule. When they saw the awkward rowing of the Chesterfields, they could hardly repress their mirth, but they succeeded in confining it to smiles, in some cases exaggerated into broad grins, but not one of them uttered the shouts of derision that were at the ends of their tongues.
On the bow of the leading boat Dory saw the name Dasher, and a glance at the other showed that she was the Racer. As these names had no doubt been selected by the gentlemanly students themselves,—for Colonel Buckmill would certainly have chosen classic appellations,—they conveyed some idea of the boating views of their crews. Racer was suggestive of trials of speed, and they would not have been boys if they had not desired and expected to beat something. Dasher was hardly less suggestive, and perhaps took in the additional idea of breaking something.
The Dashers and the Racers had given so much attention to the Winooski that they lost sight of their own beautiful craft; and they began to "catch crabs," punch each other with the handles of the oars, and allow things generally to fall out of joint, so that they were soon in a sweet snarl. The crew of the Winooski were on the very point of breaking out into a roar of derision, for the sight was too much for them.