Garstin was an office-desk weakling, and a mere boy into the bargain.
The Works Committee had added insult to the injury they did him.

"Oh, you're Mr. Trevannion," said the "insult," shyly holding out a
gloved right hand. Trevannion took it limply and quickly let it drop.
"Come on," he said. "We will get across first and talk afterwards."

The gruffness of his tone did not tend to encourage expansiveness on the
other's part, and little more was said whilst they unmoored the boat and
rowed across, so the engineer had good opportunity for taking stock of
his companion. The water was rough, and he judged from the clumsy way in
which Garstin handled his oar and his apparent powerlessness to impart
vigour to the stroke that muscular development had not formed part of
his education. Trevannion stood six-foot-one in his stockings, and his
frame was well knit with muscles that were supple as well as strong;
naturally, he believed that physical fitness was essential to a good
engineer, especially to an engineer in charge of a rather rough crew of
workmen. He resolved by-and-by to recommend a course of Sandow to the
new hand.

"Mind how you get out," he said, when the boat bumped against the slimy
ladder that did duty for a stairway. "The steps are greasy, and those
togs of yours are hardly suited to this job."

Garstin flushed but made no remark, and Trevannion flattered himself
that the hint would not be wasted. He had already decided that the new
engineer would have to be taught many things. This was Lesson No. 1.

Hardly had they scrambled on to the wharf when Trevannion's ganger came
up.

"'Morning, sir. Can I speak to you a moment? There has been trouble
between O'Donnell and Peters. O'Donnell was drunk--leastways so Peters
says. Any'ow they got fighting and mauled each other pretty severe; in
fact Peters is in hospital. Thought you'd better hear of it, sir."

"Quite right," said Trevannion judicially. It was a common enough story
on the wharf, and he had heard it before without paying much attention,
but now--he glanced at the slight figure beside him, who evidently
required as many object-lessons as could be given--and decided that here
lay the opportunity for giving Lesson No. 2. "Pay O'Donnell and sack
him," he commanded.

"Very good, sir," said the ganger, moving away.

"That's the way we have to treat our fellows here," said Trevannion.
"Summary justice, you know. They're a rough lot. Now come and see the