The Proper Way Is, When The Command Is Given, For
Each Oarsman To Raise The Blade Of His Oar Quick, But Gently, Into The
Air, Letting The End Of The Handle Rest Upon The Thwart.
It is then in
a position to be let down into the water conveniently when the next
order, which is, _Let fall_, is given.
The raising of the oars, and then letting them fall, all exactly
together, by the crew of a man-of-war's boat, makes a very pretty
spectacle.
The boys, however, knew nothing about this, for Marco, as it was all
very plain and familiar to him, did not realize the necessity of
making very minute explanations to such new recruits as those
that were under his command. Accordingly, when the order came to
_toss_, some of the boys sat still, looking at Marco, and not
knowing what to do; others raised their oars into the air, some one
way and some another; and Joseph, who was a little discomposed by the
rebuff he had met with, concluded that he would obey as literally as
possible, let what would come of it and he gave his oar a high toss
into the air. It fell at a short distance from him into the water,
went down for a moment out of sight, and then, shooting out for half
its length, it fell over upon its side and began to float away.
[Illustration: "TOSS."]
Hereupon ensued just such a scene of laughter shouts, and confusion
as might have been expected.
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