Jervis "pished and pshaw'd" a little at hearing what had happened, but his presence acted like oil on the waters. The moment the resignation was named, Tom's thoughts had turned to Hardy. Now was the time--he had such confidence in the man, that the idea of getting him in for next race entirely changed the aspect of affairs to him, and made him feel as "bumptious" again as he had done in the morning. So with this idea in his head, he hung about till the Captain had made his toilet, and joined himself to him and Miller as they walked up. "Well, what are we going to do now," said the Captain. "That's just what you have to settle," said Miller; "you have been up all the term, and know the men's pulling better than I." "I suppose we must press somebody from the torpid--let me see, there's Burton." "He rolls like a porpoise," interrupted Miller, positively; "impossible." "Stewart might do, then." "Never kept time for three strokes in his life," said Miller. "Well, there are no better men," said the Captain. "Then we may lay our account to stopping where we are, if we don't even lose a place," said Miller. "Dust unto dust, what must be, must; If you can't get crumb, you'd best eat crust." said the Captain. "It's all very well talking coolly now," said Miller, "but you'll kill yourself trying to bump, and there are three more nights." "Hardy would row if you asked him, I'm sure," said Tom. The Captain looked at Miller, who shook his head. "I don't think it," he said; "I take him to be a shy bird that won't come to everybody's whistle. We might have had him two years ago, I believe--I wish we had." "I always told you so," said Jervis; "at any rate let's try him. He can but say no, and I don't think he will for you see he has been at the starting place every night, and as keen as a freshman all the time." "I'm sure he won't," said Tom; "I know he would give anything to pull." "You had better go to his rooms and sound him," said the Captain; "Miller and I will follow in half an hour." We have already heard how Tom's mission prospered. The next day, at a few moments before two o'clock, the St. Ambrose crew, including Hardy, with Miller (who was a desperate and indefatigable pedestrian), for leader, crossed Magdalen Bridge. At five they returned to college, having done a little over fifteen miles fair heal and toe walking in the interval. The afternoon had been very hot, and Miller chuckled to the Captain, "I don't think there will be much trash left in any of them after that. That fellow Hardy is as fine as a race-horse, and, did you see, he never turned a hair all the way."