Joe Granger
gained honour in suggesting ways and showing how things were done. It
was the time of Granger's life. He was not even a good sailorman. His
steering was pitiful. Didn't Jones have to show him how the royal
buntlines led? What did Martin say about the way he passed a
head-earring? A poor sailorman! ... Yet here he was: bossing us
around; Able Seamen carrying tools to him; Old Man listening quite
decently to his suggestions--even the hard-case Mate (who knew Granger,
if anyone did) not above passing a word now and then! ... And all
because Granger had worked in the Union Ironworks at 'Frisco. At first
I am sure it was a _holder-on_ he told us he had been, but before our
job had gone far it was a whilom _foreman shipwright_ who told us what
was to be done! ... If Armstrong, the carpenter, had not taken up a
firm stand when it came to putting in the deck, there would have been
hints that we had a former _under-manager_ among us! It was the time
of Joe's life, and the bo'sun could only chuckle and grin and wag his
head in anticipation of 'proper sailor-work' on the mast and spars.

It was good for us brassbounders to lie at Port William, where there
was little but the work in progress to interest us. In the half-deck
we were full of ship repairs. Little else was talked about when we
were below. Each of us carried a small piece of chalk, all ready to
make rough drawings to explain our ideas. We chalked on the walls, the
table, the deck, the sea-chests, lines and cross-lines, and bends and
knees--no matter what, so long as there were plenty of round "O's" to
show where the rivets were to go. We explained to one another the
mysteries of ship construction, talked loftily of breasthooks and sheer
strakes, and stringers and scantlings ... and were as wise after the
telling! That was while the ironwork repairs were in progress. In a
week or more we were spar-makers. Jock Steel and his mates put down
their drifts and hammers, and took up adzes and jack-planes. We were
getting on! We had no time for anyone who drew sketches of riveting.
It was 'striking cambers' and 'fairing' and 'tapering' now, and Joe
Granger got a cool reception when he came along to the half-deck after
work was over for the day. Poor Joe had fallen from his high place!
With the bowsprit hove down and securely strapped and riveted, and the
last caulking blow dealt at the leaky doubling, his services became of
small account. No