Then, Without Letting Them Row Any, He Ordered Them To _Toss_ Again; That Is, To Raise The Oars Out Of The Water And Hold Them In The Air, With The End Of The Handle Resting Upon The Thwart.

He drilled them in this exercise for some time, until they could go through it with ease, regularity, and dispatch.

He then gave the order, "_Crew at ease_," and let the boys rest themselves and enjoy conversation.

While they were resting, Forester paddled them about. The boys asked him when he was going to let them row, and Forester told them that perhaps they had had drilling enough for one day, and if they chose he would not require any thing more of them, but would paddle them about and let them amuse themselves. But they were all eager to learn to row. So Forester consented.

He taught them the use of the oar, in the same slow and cautious manner by which his preceding instructions had been characterized. He made one learn at a time, explaining to him minutely every motion. As each one, in turn, practiced these instructions, the rest looked on, observing every thing very attentively, so as to be ready when their turn should come. At length, when they had rowed separately, he tried first two, and then four, and then six together, and finally got them so trained that they could keep the stroke very well. While they were pulling in this manner, the boat would shoot ahead very rapidly.

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