Page:Boating - Woodgate - 1888.pdf/108

 Discipline is all-important ina crew, and it usually requires tact to maintain it: If the captain is a triton among minnows, he can better afford to hector ; but, as a rule, he runs the risk of mutiny, or ar least of producing sulkiness, if he treats his crew as if they were galley-slaves. If he is in the hoat, working with them, sharing their toils and privations, his task becomes easier on this score ; for the crew realise that, however irksome the orders for the day may be, they are felt just as much by the commander as by the rank and file, Ifa member of the crew openly defies a captain, the bad example is too dangerous to he tolerated. To expel a mutineer may ruin the chance of victory for an impending race, but it will be best for the club in the long run, and will be likely to save many a defeat.

The writer has in mind two such incidents which oceurred to himself at different times while officiating as captain of a club. In each case the mutineer was the stroke, and the spes gregis. He resented being told to row slower, or faster, as the case might be, and presently flatly declined to he dictated to. In cach case the boat was instantly ordered ashore, and the grumbler was asked to step out. His place was filled by some emergency man, he was left ashore, and was told at the end of the day that the captain regretted to be obliged to dispense with his services. In cach case the rest of the crew buttonholed their late stroke, and put the screw upon him to heg pardon, and with success. The one stroke was reinstated at his old post ; the other was also put back ta the boat, but at No.6, In hath cases mutiny was stamped out ance and for all. Of these two men it may be said that one eventually rose te be stroke of a winning University eight, and the other of a winning Grand Challenge crew. In each case they were great personal friends of the captain, and there was no interruption of social relations through the peremptory line of conduct pursued, Many old fellow-oarsmen of the writer will doubtless recognise these incidents, in which names are naturally omitted,

Punctuality is an important detail of discipline in a crew. It is a good system to order a fine to be levied by the seeretary