A LESSON IN STEERING.
It was a perfect day for the water, and the Fletcher boys, with a good supply of sandwiches, meat-patties and ginger-beer, had gone off for a day's boating. Their sister Daisy thought it was very hard lines to be left at home, but Mrs. Fletcher would not allow her to go unless a boatman were in charge.
'The boys know what they are about, and I feel fairly happy about them,' she said, 'but I cannot let my little daughter run any risks.'
This was disappointing, though the real grievance lay in the fact that the boys did not seem very anxious to have her. They were very fond of their sister, but, of course, they said there were times when a girl was 'a bit in the way.'
So Daisy wandered down to the pier, feeling rather forlorn, and longing for the time when the boys' boat would come in sight.
Old Steve Tucker was sitting on the end of the pier, smoking his pipe, when Daisy came along.
'Fine day for a sail, Missie,' he said, and indeed the dancing blue waters of the bay looked most inviting.
Then Daisy poured out her troubles, and the old man shook his head in sympathy.
'I wonder now if you would be allowed to come along with me in my little sailing-boat?' he suggested.