The talk of the crew was silenced for the moment as every man looked eagerly at the Exeter boat. The Captain nodded to Jervis with a grim smile as they paddled gently by.
Then the talk began again, “How do you think she goes?”
“Not so badly. They're very strong in the middle of the boat.”
“Not a bit of it; it's all lumber.”
“You'll see. They're better trained than we are. They look as fine as stars.”
“So they ought. They've pulled seven miles to our five for the last month, I'm sure.”
“Then we sha'n't bump them.”
“Why not?”
“Don't you know that the value of products consist in the quantity of labor which goes to produce them? Product pace over course from Iffley up. Labor expended, Exeter 7; St. Ambrose, 5. You see it is not in the nature of things that we should bump them—Q.E.D.”
“What moonshine! as if ten miles behind their stroke are worth two behind Jervis!”