“‘I’ll leave it in the Board’s hands,’ I said, ‘if two hunder an’ eighty-seven pound is anything beyond right and reason for eight months.’ I might ha’ saved my breath, for the Board was new since the last election, an’ there they sat, the damned deevidend-huntin’ ship-chandlers, deaf as the adders o’ Scripture.
“‘We must keep faith wi’ the public,’ said young Steiner.
“‘Keep faith wi’ the Breslau, then,’ I said. ‘She’s served you well, an’ your father before you. She’ll need her bottom restiffenin’, an’ new bed-plates, an’ turnin’ out the forward boilers, an’ re-turnin’ all three cylinders, an’ refacin’ all guides, to begin with. It’s a three months’ job.’
“‘Because one employé is afraid?’ says young Steiner. ‘Maybe a piano in the Chief Engineer’s cabin would be more to the point.’
“I crushed my cap in my hands, an’ thanked God we’d no bairns an’ a bit put by.
“‘Understand, gentlemen,’ I said. ‘If the Breslau is made a sixteen-day boat, ye’ll find another engineer.’
“‘Bannister makes no objection,’ said Holdock.
“‘I’m speakin’ for myself,’ I said. ‘Bannister has bairns.’ An’ then I ‘Ye can run her into Hell an’ out again if ye pay pilotage,’ I said, ‘but ye run without me.’
“‘That’s insolence,’ said young Steiner.
“‘At your pleasure,’ I said, turnin’ to go.