But Dory was very anxious in regard to the situation, and he found it very difficult to decide what to do. True to his antecedents, he wished to avoid a quarrel, or even a dispute, with the members of the Collegiate Institute. If he went near them there was sure to be trouble; but it would be impossible to recover the clothes without approaching them.
There were only two courses open to him: one was to return to Beech Hill with his naked crew, and the other was to confront the Chesterfields; and a meeting might result in their being obliged to go back to the other side of the lake in their present novel uniform. It would be humiliating to return in a state of nature, and to encounter the derision of the first class.
Was it necessary for him to submit to every indignity without resistance in order to avoid a quarrel? Must his crew submit to being robbed of their clothes rather than stand up for their rights? Must they abandon their property rather than make an effort to reclaim it,—rather than run the risk of a quarrel?
Dory decided these questions in the negative very promptly. His religion was stalwart enough to make him believe there was such a thing as carrying even meekness too far. If there proved to be a quarrel, he should go into it with clean hands, having done nothing to provoke it; and what was true of himself personally was true of every member of his crew. Not one of them had uttered a jeer or a taunt in the hearing of the assailants. They had minded their own business in the fullest sense of the phrase; and whatever happened they were not to blame.
The boys were warm and comfortable by this time, and the coxswain had greatly reduced the rapidity of the stroke. The rowers had regained their breath, and were watching the anxious face of Dory with the most intense interest. There were twenty-six of the Chesterfields, which was double their own number, and to get their clothes by force did not look like a hopeful enterprise to any of them. But the Gildrocks were not far off, and their assistance could be had for the asking.
"Now, fellows, we must overhaul those boats," said Dory in his usual quiet tone, when he had decided not to return to Beech Hill in their present uniform.
"What are you going to do, Dory?" asked Ben Ludlow curiously; and the same question was on the lips of every member of the crew.
"I intend to do whatever it may be necessary to do. We are going after our clothes, and we must get them the best way we can," replied the coxswain.
"But suppose they won't give them to us?" suggested Life Windham.
"The clothes belong to us, and we have urgent need of them at just this time. If they won't give them to us, we must take them, if we can," answered Dory.