The enemies of the schoolhouse said openly that they had refused Bloomfield's demand for a new race, and intended to stick to their ill-gotten laurels in spite of everybody.

On the other side it was as freely asserted that Parrett's had funked it; and some went even so far to hint that the snapping of the rope happened fortunately for the boat, and saved it under cover of an accident from the disgrace of a defeat.

The few who knew the real story considered Bloomfield was quite right in refusing another race till the culprit of the first should be brought to justice.
But the two fellows on whom the announcement fell most severely were Gilks and Silk.

For if the race of that day was to stand, the schoolhouse boat had definitely won the race, and consequently they were both losers to a considerable extent.
They had counted almost certainly on a second race, but now that this had been decided against, their wrath and dismay knew no bounds.

They spent the evening in vituperations and angry discussion, and ended it in what was very little short of a downright quarrel.