Explore "All Taut" by Oliver Optic on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The first two weeks of the term were devoted to giving the new students a proper start in their studies, and in the work of the shop. At the same time they learned to pull an oar, and to handle a rowboat. At the end of that time the crew of the Winooski could pull a very fair stroke, and were tolerably obedient to the orders of the coxswain. A Whitehall fellow undertook to have his own way at one time, and the boat went to the shore at once. In five minutes more he was locked up in his room.
The next day, after he had backed down, and resumed his place in the schoolroom, he took his oar again. No one appeared to know that he had disobeyed orders; no one said anything; he received no sympathy, and was subjected to no condemnation, among his associates. He had a good chance to turn over a new leaf if he was disposed to do so. The very fact that he was ignored, proved that his fellow-students were in full sympathy with the principal.