So, on the whole, there was no saying how the chances stood.
I found I had all my work before me to get accustomed to my new duties before the day of the race.

Daily I was out with the four, and several times besides I was taken over the course in a punt, and carefully shown all the shallows, and bends, and eddies of the stream, and made familiar with the ins and outs of either bank.
Luckily, I was a light weight to begin with, so that I did not lose much by my limited period of training, being indeed not so heavy as the former coxswain of the boat, whom I had succeeded.
Well, the eventful day came at last.

The Old Boys arrived the day before, and from the two trial rows which they took over the course, we could see they were a first-rate crew and formidable opponents.

Still our "coach," who had watched them minutely, told us we had the better stroke of the two, and if we could only hold out, ought to win after all.

This was comforting information, for the showy style of our opponents had struck terror into not a few of those whose sympathies were on the side of the present boys.
The school turned out in force to witness the event.