"I made a discovery this morning, Captain," was the quiet reply.
"Ye did! In what way?"
"I discovered that your son has a great fondness for drawing."
"Humph!" the captain grunted, as he gave the wheel a quick, savage turn to the right. "Say, I nearly ran through that salmon net. It's too fer out, blamed if it isn't. Yes, I know Eben's fond of drawin', an' that's the trouble. He'd fiddle around all day with a paper an' pencil if I'd let him, an' not do a hand's turn."
"But suppose he should make a success of his drawing, though?"
"In what way? Wouldn't it be better fer him to learn boatin' so he kin take charge of this craft some day?"
"He never will do that, Captain. His mind is set upon being an engineer, and you should encourage him all you can."
"An engineer!" The captain stared at the girl in amazement.
"Yes, an engineer. He has a great liking for that, and the drawings he has made are remarkably good, considering that he has had no one to teach him."
"Ye don't tell! But what has drawin's to do with engineering I'd like to know. Ye don't have to make drawin's to run an engine, do ye ?"