Shove off, Dave." Darrin pushed his paddle against the float, Dick doing likewise at the stern.

Large as it was, the canoe glided smoothly across the water.
"Now, give us the slow stroke, Dave!" Dick called.
Soon the others caught the trick of paddling in unison.

Each had his own side of the craft on which to paddle.

Dick, alone, as steersman, paddled on either side at will, according as he wished to guide the boat.
"You're doing finely," called Hiram Driggs.
"Let's hit up the speed a bit," urged Dan Dalzell.
"We won't be in too big a hurry about that," Dick counseled.
"Let us get the knack of this thing by degrees." "Whee! When we do get to going fast I'll wager there is a lot of fine old speed in this birch-bark tub!" chuckled Tom Reade.
Dick now headed the canoe up the river.

For half a mile or more they glided along on a nearly straight course.
To say that these Gridley high school boys were happy would be putting it rather mildly.