Page:Stanwood Pier--Crashaw brothers.djvu/154

134 They executed intricate twirls and flourishes smoothly and in unison; and at last, with a simultaneous flourish, they tucked their clubs  under their arms, bobbed a little bow, and  amidst applause pattered off to the stairway.

Next came the vaulting contest, won by Watts, captain of the School track team;  Sheldon was second. Then two Fifth Formers with basket-like helmets on their heads and  padded sweaters on their shoulders engaged  in a spirited but bloodless fencing-bout; after  which Payne and Blanchard, who were two of  the best boxers in the School, had a sparring-match which was not quite bloodless and which  provoked great hilarity among the boys.

Mrs. Crashaw thought that was almost too much, even though assured by Lawrence that  Payne and Blanchard were bosom friends;  she preferred the performances on the horizontal bar and on the parallel bars, in both of  which Sheldon took part,—not very gloriously, for he failed in attempting feats which  the others executed. Mrs. Crashaw had by that time begun to notice him; she commented