with asking him how it had happened, and, as he never spoke in a hurry,
supplied him with the answers. A stretcher had broken in the Exeter? No,
but the Cambridge was a much better built boat, and her bottom cleaner.
The bow oar of the Exeter was ill, and not fit for work. Each of these
solutions was advanced and combated in turn, and then all together. At
last the Babel lulled, and Edward was once more appealed to.

"Well, I will tell you the real truth," said he, "how it happened."
(Puff.)

There was a pause of expectation, for the young man's tone was that of
conviction, knowledge, and authority.

"The Cambridge men pulled faster than we did." (Puff.)

The hearers stared and then laughed.

"Come, old fellows," said Edward, "never win a boat-race on dry land!
That is such a _plain_ thing to do; gives the other side the laugh as
well as the race. I have heard a stretcher or two told, but I saw none
broken. (Puff.) Their boat is the worst I ever saw; it dips every stroke.
(Puff.) Their strength lies in the crew. It was a good race and a fair
one. Cambridge got a lead and kept it. (Puff.) They beat us a yard or two
at rowing; but hang it all, don't let them beat us at telling the truth,
not by an inch." (Puff.)

"All right, old fellow!" was now the cry. One observed, however, that
Stroke did not take the matter so coolly as Six; for he had shed a tear
getting out of the boat.