Before a hundred yards were completed something seemed to go wrong in the boat.
It rolled heavily and wavered in its course.

What was wrong?
The fault was certainly not in Fairbairn, who kept doggedly to work in perfectly even style.

Nor, to all appearance, was it in Riddell.

He was evidently puzzled by the sudden unsteadiness of the boat, but no one could lay it to his charge.
"Who's that digging behind ?" cried Fairbairn over his shoulder.
None of the other three owned the soft impeachment, and the boat seemed to right itself of its own accord.
Fairbairn, whose temper was never improved by perplexities, quickened his stroke, and gave his men a spell of hard work for a bit to punish them.
This seemed to have a good effect, and once again the onlookers were startled to see how steadily and fast the boat was travelling.

But once again the mysterious disturbance interrupted their progress.
This time Fairbairn stopped short, and turning round demanded angrily who it was who was playing the fool, for an effect like this could only be put down to such a course.