64 A Sportsman at Large 



I passed the matriculation quite easily. Here I may 

 perhaps be allowed to " buck " that I have never been " spun " 

 in an examination, though I had a precious narrow squeak 

 when I came before Dr. Butler for the Harrow entrance 

 exam, as already set forth. 



I went up to Trinity for the Michaelmas term a year after 

 I had shaken the dust of the school on the Hill from my shoes. 



My first idea was to follow up my experience as a rifle shot, 

 and to attempt to work my way into the Varsity Eight. . Ac- 

 cordingly I joined the corps ; but hardly had I done so, when 

 I was pounced upon by some of the " wet bobs/' who, noting 

 my diminutive proportions, thought I might prove a valuable 

 asset to the I.T.B.C. as coxswain. 



I was in the position of the proverbial ass, steering between 

 two bundles of hay, but I came to the conclusion that the river, 

 and not the range, was the place for me. I did not relish the 

 idea of recruits' drill and other disciplinary amenities. My 

 experience with the theological four had whetted my appetite 

 for steering. Moreover, I was wise to the fact that if discipline 

 were to be the order of the day, your Uncle Cockie was the 

 one to impose, not to suffer it ! A " Cox " has, or should have, 

 plenary powers. 



My first venture was the steering of one of the Harrovian 

 scratch fours. Here I was among old schoolfellows, and it 

 was my luck to draw a pretty useful quartette of oarsmen. 



What is more, my little lot won the final in great style, 

 so I found myself the proud possessor of a double-handled and 

 lacquered pewter mug, with the names of the victorious crew 

 neatly engraved thereon, beneath the well-known Harrow 

 School arms. 



When the Lent races came round I was allocated to the 

 Club Fifth boat, which held an inglorious position fourth in 

 the Third Division. 



Meanwhile I had put on some weight, and was now close 

 on nine stone, which at that time was considered over heavy 

 for a coxswain. 



The other captains, in order of seniority, if they were not 

 already suited with seniors, had had the pick of the freshmen 

 to handle their lines. They had gone for the lightest bits of 



