Page:Stanwood Pier--Crashaw brothers.djvu/144

124 mising. But how can Sheldon know as early as this—before half the fellows have begun  rowing?”

“I guess he’s a good fellow but not much of a captain,” Charles said thoughtfully. “He did n’t act right this afternoon.”

“What, in knocking you down the way he did?”

“No; in not knocking me down again. He knows he made a mistake; that’s why he said he was too tender-hearted. It was n’t that exactly; he lost his nerve. I bet you Sheldon’s a fellow that loses his nerve.”

“No, I don’t believe he does.”

“You see. He’s a good fellow, but he’s a sort of a quitter, I’ll bet anything. You see.”

The very word “quitter” had a sobering effect on Edward. To hear it applied to one who, he felt, deserved it far less than he did  himself, made him very uncomfortable, and he  became silent. Charles attributed his silence to disapproval of such derogatory remarks about the St. Timothy’s captain.

“Oh well,” said Charles pacifically, that’s