Hobson talked to Frank, telling him just how everything should be done, and he permitted Frank to handle the engine for some time, although some of his criticisms were rather cutting.
Occasionally Frank caught himself in the act of giving her steam when he should have reversed her first, and the laughter of Hobson was not calculated to make him any cooler. Still, after a time, he began to grow more confident, and the engineer ceased laughing and criticising.
At the end of an hour, Hobson said:
“You’ll be a winner all right, young man; but you want to let booze alone.”
“I do not touch it, sir,” answered Frank.
“That’s all right. By booze I mean everything—beer and all.”
“I never drink beer.”
“With your color? Not when you are thirsty?”
“Never.”