"Steady, fellows," said Dory, in a mild tone. "Keep her just as she is."
The words restored the crew to their self-possession, and they straightened their faces with a hard struggle. The coxswain of the Dasher spoke a few sharp words to his crew, and restored order in his boat.
"I say, Greasers," shouted he, a moment later, making a gesture as if beckoning to the Winooski.
Dory did not heed the call or the sign.
"Halloo! I say, you fellows from the Tinkers' Institute!" yelled Wash Barker, coxswain of the Dasher, as his name and style were afterwards found to be.
The crew of the Winooski still pulled their easy stroke, and Dory took no notice of the offensive hail.
"I say, you Chip-makers! Are you all deaf? Don't you hear me?" screamed Wash Barker in a still louder tone.
But Dory would not have heard him if his voice had been an earthquake while he mixed an epithet into his remark.
"Don't you want to race with us, Tinkers?" called Mad Twinker, the coxswain of the Racer, which had now come up abreast of the Dasher.
"Steady, fellows," said Dory in a low tone.