These shopmen are such sneaks.

If they can't get their money from the fellow, they send their bills in to the house master, and sometimes to the head master; and then it's a precious awkward thing.
How are you getting on in your form ?" I had not much spirit to tell him, and if I had there was no time, for just then the swish of a pair of sculls came round the corner behind us, and presently a boat at almost racing speed appeared in sight.
"Pull your right!" said Crofter.

"Hallo! it's one of our fellows.
Looks like Tempest himself." I wished myself at the bottom of the river then! What would he think of me if he saw me, and if he knew what I had been listening to?
In my perturbation I over-pulled my line and sent our boat into the bank.

Tempest, who evidently was relieving himself with a spin of hard exercise after his fashion, and imagined he had the river to himself, was bearing down straight upon us.
"Hallo, there; keep her out!" shouted Crofter.
Tempest looked round in a startled way, and held water hard to avoid a collision.

Then, as he suddenly took in who we were, his face lengthened, and he came to a halt alongside.
"You there, Jones iv. ?" "Yes, would you like me to come and steer you ?" said I.
Considering the difficulty into which I had just landed my present boat, it was difficult to natter myself any one would exactly compete for my services.