Part 42 (1/2)

That c.o.c.klesh.e.l.l of a _Sea Gull_ goes rippin' along through the eel gra.s.s, her propeller clear and free as if she had twenty fathoms of water under her. It's as pretty a sight as you'd care to look on.”

Mr. Galbraith watched the s.h.i.+ning eyes of the inventor.

”Mr. Spence,” he said, ”that idea of yours is going to be a very useful and valuable one. Have you thought of that?”

Willie flushed.

”Well,” replied he with hesitation, ”yesterday when I was shuckin'

clams it did come to me that mebbe there'd be other folks besides Zenas Henry would like it.”

”A great many folks!” rejoined the capitalist. ”I am in a position to know, because s.h.i.+pbuilding chances to be my business.”

”So I was told,” his listener remarked quietly. An expression of quick surprise pa.s.sed over the other's countenance.

”Yes,” he went on, ”both Mr. Snelling and I are interested in boats in our way.”

”It's a fine job,” Willie observed evasively.

”Yes, it is. Not only is s.h.i.+pbuilding a fascinating occupation but it is a patriotic one as well, for I believe the resurrection of our merchant marine to be one of the most important duties of our nation.

Everything that works toward that end is a service to the country, in my estimation.”

”You're right, sir,” was the rejoinder. ”I'm terrible fond of s.h.i.+ps myself. They're human as people an' as different. You can turn 'em out from the same model, but no two of 'em will ever be alike. I've got a little yawl down on the sh.o.r.e I wouldn't take a thousand dollars for. She's knowin' as if she was alive. I can tell to an inch how much sail she'll stand an' how much water she'll draw. She answers to the tiller quick as a child to your voice, too--quicker'n most children. I've had her for years, an' smooth weather or foul she ain't never gone back on me. Folks disappoint you sometimes; but a boat never does.” As if sensing that he was venturing on dangerous ground, he stopped abruptly. ”So you build boats, do you?” he commented to change the subject.

Richard Galbraith nodded.

”That's my calling,” he a.s.sented. ”And since it is, I am in a position to handle things that have to do with boats of all kinds. That is why your motor-boat idea has interested me so deeply. I saw its possibilities from the moment I first laid eyes on it, and I wish to congratulate you on having given the public such a useful invention.”

”It ain't got far toward the public,” objected Willie, with a deprecating shrug of his shoulders.