The canoe was of birch bark, so thin that it seemed to him that an incautious movement would instantly knock a hole through her.
Once under weigh, she was steadier than he had expected, and James could feel her bound forward with each stroke of the paddles.

When he became accustomed to the motion of the boat, he raised himself from a sitting position in the bottom, and, kneeling as the others were doing, he began to dip his paddle quietly in the water in time with their stroke.

His familiarity with rowing rendered it easy for him to keep time and swing, and, ere long, he found himself putting a considerable amount of force into each stroke.

Nat looked back over his shoulder.
"Well done, young 'un.

That's first rate for a beginner, and it makes a deal of difference on our arms.