Now, back her--steady." "Tell us about it, Frank," said Charles Hardy, as the Zephyr glided clear of the boat-house, out upon the deep waters of the lake.
"Ready--up!" continued Frank, and the eleven oars were poised perpendicularly in the air.
"Down!" The members had already begun to feel the inspiration of their favorite amusement, and there appeared to have been nothing lost by the season of inactivity which had passed away.

They were as prompt and as perfect in the drill as though they had practised it every day during the winter.
Although it was a moment of excitement, there was no undue haste; every member seemed to be perfectly cool.
"Ready--pull!" And the broad blades dipped in the water, and bent before the vigorous arms of the youthful oarsmen.
"Starboard oars, cease rowing--back!" continued the coxswain, with admirable dignity and self-possession; and the Zephyr, acted upon by this maneuver, came about as though upon a pivot, without going either backward or forward.
"Starboard oars, steady--pull!" and the rowers indicated by this command caught the stroke, and the light bark shot ahead, with her wonted speed, in the direction of Rippleton village.
"Zephyr, ahoy!" shouted some one from the shore.
"Tim Bunker--ain't it ?" asked Charles.
"Yes." "Humph! he needn't hail us like that.

I was sure your father would never permit him to join the club," continued Charles, who fancied that he read in Frank's expression the disapproval of his father.
"You are in the wrong, Charley." "Am I ?" "You are; my father cordially approved our action.

Now, Zephyrs, I am going up to Flat Rock to take him aboard; and I hope every fellow will treat him well--just as though he had never done anything out of the way.

What do you say ?" "We will," they replied, with one voice.
"And then, if he does not walk straight, it will not be our fault.