A superb seaman, he also had that rare quality of being a good and patient teacher. In Ned he found a very willing and extremely able pupil, and he enjoyed teaching the boy. George was too impatient, given to rushing headlong into something only half understood, and Ben was wily, quick to learn the practical things, but slower at understanding the principles he called “book larnin’.”
The skipper scratched the dog’s ear thoughtfully, watching the lads in the failing light. “It’ll be ’ard work, though, if the wind goes more northerly against us. Long’s it stays in the south and west, it’s an easy run.”
Standing, he knocked his pipe out on the gunwale. “Jus’ one thing, lads—watch yourselves wi’ t’ local lads in Colchester. They’s a tough bunch, an’ likes ter ’ave a crack at trying their str
