"Well done, Stratton!" exclaimed Mr. Armitage with whole-hearted earnestness. Then after a minute or so he added: "We'll have to go slower than that; look at the wash."
Peter glanced astern. The powerfully-engined craft, although well throttled down, was leaving a turmoil of waves in her wake. Small boats and canoes were bobbing in the swell, which broke heavily against the bank on one side, and the college barges on the other.
"She's going as slow as possible," yelled Roche in reply to the request for less speed. "If I throttle her any more she'll stop."
Peter looked inquiringly at the Scoutmaster.
"Cut out a couple of cylinders," suggested Mr. Armitage.
This was done, but the boat trembled excessively with the jerky motion imparted by two cylinders only. At the same time the speed was visibly reduced.
Just then Mr. Murgatroyd, who was sitting on the roof of the deck-house determined to enjoy himself, inquired: "Won't she go any faster?"
"We can't do it without causing damage to other craft," replied Mr. Armitage.
"Then I'm hanged if I keep the boat on the Thames, if I can't get more out of her than that," was the rejoinder. "Look at that launch, she's going twice as fast as we are."
By the time Mr. Armitage had endeavoured to explain that the difference in displacement and shape of the submerged surfaces had everything to do with speed, the Olivette was approaching Iffley Lock.