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Updated: June 9, 2025
Among the few who remained on the scene of the accident were Gilks and Silk, both pale and agitated. The latter, as has been said, was painfully interested in the result of the race. To him the defeat of Parrett's meant more than the mere disappointment of a hope or the humiliation by a rival.
"Yes, and isn't he hot about the race? I say, Gilks, I hope there'll be no mistake about Parrett's winning. I've a lot of money on them." "Never fear," said Gilks. "It'll be rather a rum thing if I, rowing in the schoolhouse boat, can't put the drag on them somehow. I don't expect for a moment it will be wanted; but if it is, Gilks will be under the painful necessity of catching a crab!"
"They are cricket-mad at present," said he, "and I suppose they're afraid of having their match against Parrett's stopped." It was a modest way, no doubt, of accounting for their obedience to his authority; but whatever the reason might be, it was certain the captain had no further occasion to interfere that evening.
A general rush was made for the unlucky boat, and shouts and recriminations and taunts and condolences bore witness to the mixed feelings of the spectators. Some demanded a fresh race there and then, some suggested foul play, others urged the boat to row on and make the best race they could of it, others boldly claimed the victory for Parrett's, since they led at the moment of the accident.
Bloomfield himself, it was plain, felt its force, and as to the more vehement members of Parrett's, it considerably damped their ardour. "Old man," said Fairbairn that evening to his friend the captain, "you struck a really good blow for the school this afternoon. I don't know how you managed to pitch on just the right thing to say, as you did. Things will come all right, take my word for it.
"But doesn't the boat seem to be going better?" asked Wyndham. "It looks to be going a lot better from the bank." "But you don't mean to say, young un," said Silk, "you ever expect the schoolhouse will beat Parrett's?" "I'm afraid they are rather strong," said Wyndham, regretfully. "Strong!" said Silk; "they're the finest crew Willoughby's turned out for years.
"Howling young Radical cad!" exclaimed Telson, who, carried away by the excitement of the hour, had forgotten all Mr Parrett's prohibitions, and had come to visit his old allies; "you ought to be ashamed of yourself." "Indeed, I'm Yellow," pleaded the unhappy Bosher. "They forced me to be Cheeseman at the meeting, but it wasn't my fault." "Don't tell crams," cried the others.
Riddell meanwhile, with the other half of his mission still to execute, went over to Parrett's. Parson was lounging about at the door, with a towel over his arm, waiting, as any one might have guessed, for Telson. "Has Bloomfield gone out?" asked the captain of this youthful hero.
"Have you?" inquired Silk. "Yes; I fancy I left it here last night. I say, have you heard Parrett's won't accept a new race?" "I wonder why?" asked Silk. "Because they say they won't have out their boat again till the fellow's found who cut the lines." "Well, I don't blame them do you, Gilks?" said Silk. "I suppose there's no idea who he is?"
As far as Gilks and Silk could see at present Parrett's led by about half a length, which advantage, however, it stood to lose owing to its outside position at the corner. Parson, however, knew what he was about even better than Riddell, who had kept a magnificent course down the reach, but who now seemed afraid to take full advantage of the sharp corner.
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