“What are you going to do with those pea-jackets?” asked De Forrest, when he saw their extra clothing.
“It’s rather chilly up here in the evening, and we thought we might want them, while we were waiting,” replied Sanford.
“I don’t think it is very cold, and as to the evening, the sun don’t set till about eight o’clock,” added the officer, as he went aft to the professors who were going on shore, and reported that the boat was ready; for it had already been lowered into the water, and made fast to the swinging boom.
Her crew went over the side, and seated themselves in the cutter.
“Ready!” said the coxswain, as the stern-sheets of the barge ranged alongside the little stage at the foot of the ladder. “Up oars!”
Up went the eight oars to a perpendicular position, where they were held till the boat should be ready to go.
“I wonder where Ole is,” said Sanford.
“Sh!” whispered Stockwell, who pulled the bow oar, shaking his head with energy.
“What do you mean?” demanded the coxswain, in a low tone, for he was very much mystified by the pantomime of the bow oarsman.
“Don’t say a word.”