"I hope you will. Now, Tony, take your place on the starboard side, opposite the row-lock over to port."
Tony, at a venture, seated himself on the forward thwart.
"Avast! that's the larboard side."
"But, Uncle Ben, we don't know the meaning of those words," added Frank.
"No more you don't," answered Uncle Ben, hitching up his trousers and laughing good-naturedly. "You can larn, though, if you pay 'tention."
"We will try."
"This side, then,"—and the old sailor laid his hand upon the right-hand side of the boat, looking towards the bow,—"this is the starboard side."
"The right-hand side is the starboard side," repeated several of the boys.
"Number five," said Uncle Ben, calling upon Charles Hardy, "which is the starboard side?"
"This," replied Charles, pointing to his right.