"Lookout! Oh—"
Thump. "I declare!"
The first exclamation was from the tall, slim gentleman in the "out-riggered" wherry, who had been racing with the big-armed young man, and had not been looking out well enough.
He tried to turn to the left, but it was very late to try, and the suddenness of it helped him "catch a crab" with his starboard oar. When he said "Oh," he was just going over into the water.
The "thump" and the other exclamation did no harm to the Hail Columbia, but the fat old gentleman in the tub of a pleasure-boat that had bumped against the yacht remarked:
"The river swarms with boys to-day. I'm not sorry that other one got a ducking. I've had to get out of his way twice."
The officers and crew of the Hail Columbia were inclined to keep a little quiet, all but their brave Boatswain.
"Don't you know how to steer, you fellows? Don't you know that sailing vessels have the right of way? You ought to have blown your whistle sooner."
"I declare!" again exclaimed the old gentleman. "The child is perfectly right."
"Bo's'n," asked the Commodore, "can't we tack and keep along shore again?"