boat, but Tom, Phil, Holly and Dutch were sent out in the old one, with Bean Perkins for steersman, while four lads who had not been given much practice were imported into the new shell with Frank, Sid, Kindlings and Bricktop Molloy.
"Now, boys, see what you can do!" urged the coach.
It was the first time the new shell had been tried, and it was found fully up to expectations. But it was a little differently made from the old one, and this made the lads a bit awkward in it. However, they rowed fairly well, though in a short trial race the old shell came out ahead.
"We'll do some more shifting," decided Mr. Lighton, and he and Mr. Pierson tried different combinations, but still separating the eight lads who had rowed together from the start.
This was kept up for some days, the lads all, meanwhile, being on training. But when a week had passed, and the old and new boats had seasawed back and forth, first one winning and then the other, Mr. Lighton shook his head in doubt.
"Something is wrong," he said. "We'll never be able to pick a varsity crew of either of them. We need a consistent winner."
"That is right," agreed Mr. Pierson. "Why not try the same eight you had at first—the four lads whom I coached this Summer, and their four
