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Two or three fellows in great rough trousers and Guernsey shirts, are getting them ready by easy stages; now coming down the yard with a pair of sculls and a cushion—then having a chat with the ‘Jack,’ who, like all his tribe, seems to be wholly incapable of doing anything but lounging about—then going back again, and returning with a rudder-line and a stretcher—then solacing themselves with another chat—and then wondering, with their hands in their capacious pockets, ‘where them gentlemen’s got to as ordered the six.’ One of these, the head man, with the legs of his trousers carefully tucked up at the bottom, to admit the water, we presume—for it is an element in which he is infinitely more at home than on land—is quite a character, and shares with the defunct oyster-swallower the celebrated name of ‘Dando.’ Watch him, as taking a few minutes’ respite from his toils, he negligently seats himself on the edge of a boat, and fans his broad bushy chest with a cap scarcely half so furry.
Could she get us there?" "Yes, she could get us there, if she would." "Oh!" cried Dorothy, "do do steer for the Land of Heart's Delight, Auntie Lisbeth; it sounds so pretty, and I'm sure Louise would like it ever so much." But Lisbeth only laughed, and tied another knot in the rudder-line. "The Land of Heart's Delight!" repeated Dorothy. "It sounds rather like Auntie's tale of the Fairy Prince.
I couldn't make out what to do, that was it, so I stayed in bed. Was Silk there?" "Yes." "Did he say anything?" "No; the doctor told him to come again at four." Gilks took one or two uncomfortable turns up and down the room, and then said, "I may as well tell you, it's no use keeping it back any longer, for it's sure to come out. I was the fellow who cut the rudder-line. Did you know that?"
"But you know, Parson," he added, seriously, "it's just possible he might have something about the rudder-line in it, and it would be a great thing to clear that up, wouldn't it?" "So it would," said Parson, seating himself at the table. Telson and King did the same, and Bosher's diary was forthwith opened. To all appearance Bosher was the most unlikely boy in all Willoughby to keep a diary.
The shouts on the bank died away into sudden stillness, and fellows forgot even to keep up with the schoolhouse boat, which, followed by the steam-launch, rowed steadily on towards the winning-post. What was it? The answer soon became known, when Parson, standing in his boat, waved the broken end of a rudder-line above his head.
Mortified as he was beyond description, and disappointed by the collapse of his ambition, he yet scouted the idea of any one of his five rivals being guilty of so dirty a trick as the cutting of his boat's rudder-line. At the same time he was as convinced as any one that foul play had been at the bottom of the accident, and the perpetrator of the mean act was undoubtedly a schoolhouse boy.
As they prepared to leave, we all three, the farmers from Mular and I, stood there on the rocks to see how Hrolfur would manage. The crew had furled the sails and sat down to the oars, whilst old Hrolfur stood in front of the crossbeam, holding the rudder-line. They weren't rowing though, but held their oars up, waiting for their opportunity.
Consequently, after some further progress up- stream, he rested on his oars, and said, "I've not been out on the water since the day of the boat-race." "Aren't you, though?" said Tom. A pause. "That was a queer thing, the rudder-line breaking that day," said Riddell, looking hard at his young companion. Tom apparently did not quite like it.
"Hullo, you two!" exclaimed he. "Guessed I'd find you here. Such a lark!" "What is it?" asked the two friends, delighted with any diversion. "Why," exclaimed the delighted King, "you know Bosher?" "What about him? What's he done?" "Guess." "It's not he that cut the rudder-line, is it?" asked Telson. "No, of course not. But, just fancy, he keeps a diary!"
"It is merely this," said Wibberly, rapidly, and giving no time for any objection to be raised on the point of order. "I wish to ask Mr Riddell whether he has found out yet who cut the rudder-line of Parrett's boat at the boat-race, or whether he suspects anybody, and, if so, whom?" At this unlooked-for question a hubbub immediately arose.
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