"He did," said Charley, with mild sarcasm. "He also mentioned several other things. Well, here goes for a try."
He rolled up his sleeves and started to work. At the end of half an hour, he was still turning the big fly wheel and puffing and perspiring much to the delight of a crowd of fishermen who had quit work for the day and had gathered at the dock's edge offering free comments and suggestions.
"He'll sure wear that fly wheel out," observed one in a perfectly audible voice.
"Put rowlocks in her and get a pair of oars, young fellow," suggested another.
Charley stood the chaffing nobly but at last he was obliged to stop for breath.
"I'm sure I don't know what's the matter with the thing," he declared. "It had ought to go. I've cranked it until I've got blisters on my hands."
"Maybe, if you put on the switch it will go," Walter observed.
Charley glared at him. "And you have been sitting there laughing in your sleeves while I've been working myself to death," he spluttered.
"Mr. Daniels wants us to find out such little things for ourselves," observed Walter, grinning.