A PILOTS NEEDS.

135

history. I laid in the lead, set the boat in her marks, came ahead
on the engines, and said—

' It was a fine trick to play on an orphan, ivasn't it ? I suppose
I'll never hear the last of how I was ass enough to heave the lead at
the head of 66.'

* "Well, no, you won't, maybe. In fact I hope you won't; for I
want you to learn something hy that experience. Didn't you Tcnow
there was no bottom in that crossing ?7

' Yes, sir, I did.'

' Very well, then. You shouldn't have allowed me or anybody
else to shake your confidence in that knowledge. Try to remember
that. And another thing : when you get into a dangerous place,
don't turn coward. That isn't going to help matters any.'

It was a good enough lesson, but pretty hardly learned. Yet
about the hardest part of it was that for months I so often had to
hear a phrase which I had conceived a particular distaste for. It
was, * Oh, Ben, if you love me, back her !'