Story 4--Chapter I.
STORY FOUR—The Crew of the Rose.
A crew of Johnians were rowing down the Cam on a fine summer day, in their own boat Two of them were freshmen—sixth form boys in manners and pursuits; the coxswain had entered on his third year, and was reading for honours. These were English youths. The fourth—Morgan ap Tydvill—was from Wales, a pleasant, companionable fellow, proud of his country, proud of his own family in particular, and proud of the boat, of which he was part owner; generous and friendly, but very choleric, though easily calmed down. The fifth was Gerald O’Mackerry, of Irish genealogy, as his name intimates, and his patronymic was a subject of much harmless pride with him. These two latter personages were in their second year.
For some time the four rowers bent earnestly to their oars, the coxswain doing the principal part of the talking work; but as the stream carried the boat along, and there was no necessity for constant pulling, they at times restrained their arms to let their tongues run free. The chatting commenced thus:—
“We haven’t given a name to the boat yet.”
“Well, I vote for the ‘Hose.’”
“I think the ‘shamrock’ sounds well,” said O’Mackerry.