“I move you that the offer be accepted,” said William Bright.

“Second the motion,” added James Vincent.

“I make the motion, Mr. President, for the purpose of bringing the question properly before the club.  I have not thought enough about the matter yet to decide whether I am in favor of it or not,” continued William Bright.

“It is generally supposed that the one who makes a motion is in favor of it; but we won’t mind that now,” said Frank, with a smile.

“Mr. President, I must say, I think the proposition looks a little like gambling,” suggested Charles Hardy.

“So I was thinking,” added a little fellow, near the foot of the table.

“Suppose we take an informal vote,” proposed Charles, who was determined to get on the right side this time, if possible.

So an informal vote was taken, and every member voted against the proposition.

Frank Sedley was surprised at this result.  Probably he was the only one who had given any earnest thought to the subject, though the offer was known to all the boys.

Captain Sedley, who watched over the welfare of the club with paternal interest, had endeavored, during the winter that was now past, to render it effectual in developing the moral and mental capacities of the members.  He had given such a direction to the exercises in Zephyr Hall as he thought would best attain this end.  One of the greatest difficulties with which he had been obliged to contend was the want of individuality in the boys.  Each was disposed to “pin his faith” upon others.  They would not think for themselves, and exercise an independent judgment.  Like thousands in the great world, they “went with the crowd;” thought, acted, voted, with the majority.

Frank saw the operation of this motive in the “informal vote” which had just been taken; and he was tolerably certain that he could bring them all over to the other side, by indicating his own preference.

Calling Fred Harper to the chair again, he opened the discussion by offering a simile, which, being a parallel case, certainly gave the question an entirely new aspect.

“At the Rippleton Academy three gold medals and three silver medals are awarded, every year, for the best scholarship and deportment.  Is that gambling?”

“No,” replied half a dozen voices.

“Well, we are to row, in like manner for a prize.  We don’t put up money as a stake; the party that gets beaten does not lose anything.”

“That makes a difference,” added Charles.

“But the prizes in the Academy are given to make the scholars get their lessons well—­to stimulate them in doing their duty,” said William Bright.

“Very true;” and Frank saw, in the faces of the members, that the current had again set in another direction.  “But we only want to prove that rowing for the prize is not gambling.”

“That’s all,” said Charles.