“I was told that he carried the mail between some of the ports on the coast, and generally went in a surf-skiff in any kind of weather, but sometimes came up to the town with a load of fish, which he had that day.
“Several days after he came up to town in his surf-skiff and I made his acquaintance, and if that’s his craft then he’s the one as has the tiller.
“I’ll get my glass and take an observation,” and Coxswain Jack Judson went below, but immediately returned with a very handsome glass, which had been presented to him by his brother of the trading schooner.
He took a steady look, and said decidedly:
“Mates, that’s the craft, for a month’s pay it is, and it’s the boy at the helm for another!”
“Waal, what is he doin’ in these waters, coxswain?” asked a seaman.
“I don’t know, but did you ever see a craft better handled?” All admitted that they never had, while an old sailor growled forth:
“He’s trying to show off, and he’ll carry his sticks out of the craft yet before he can drop anchor. These young sailors is allus fools.”
“No, he won’t hurt her, and he isn’t any fool, either, for he knows the craft and what she’ll do when he puts her to it.
“I don’t think he’s trying to show off, for that isn’t like him, only he’s running under what sail he had up when the gale struck him.