human
Do you think you could handle a launch, little girl?
gpt
Why--perhaps I could--a little,
human
Why, Peggy Stewart, there isn't a girl in Annapolis who can handle a launch or a sailboat as YOU do,
gpt
Only Polly Howland, the Annapolis Co-Ed.
human
Eh? What's that?
gpt
Oh, Polly has had a regular course in seamanship, Captain Boynton, and knows just everything.
human
Any more than YOU do, miss?
gpt
Yes, lots,
human
Well, I'll wager anything you could take this launch up the river as easily as the coxswain is doing it,
gpt
How's that, Stewart? Have you been teaching your girl navigation?
human
I hadn't a thing to do with it. It's all due to the good friends who have been looking after her while I'VE been shooting up targets. But Polly's right. She CAN handle a craft and so can this little redhead,
gpt
By Jove, let's test it. Not many girls can do that trick. Coxswain, turn over the wheel to this young lady, but stand by in case you're needed.
human
Aye, aye, sir.
gpt
Oh, ought I?
human
Get busy, messmate,
gpt
Well, well, you get on to the trick of that, lassie. You might have served on a man-o-war.
human
How does the tide set in that middle arch, coxswain?
gpt
Keep well to starboard, miss,
human
What ails that blunderbuss? I have the right of way. Why doesn't he head inshore? and she signalled sharply on her siren to the landlubber evidently bent upon running down everything in sight, and wrecking the tub he was navigating. Then with a quick motion she flicked over her wheel and rushed by, making as pretty a circle around him as the coxswain himself could have made.
gpt
Holy smoke, but ye have given him the go-by in better shape than I could myself. Whoever taught ye?
human
A navy captain down at Annapolis,
gpt
Well, he did the job all right, all right, and I may as well go back and sit down. Faith, I thought we were as good as stove in when I handed over the wheel to ye, but I'm thinking I can learn a fancy touch or two myself.
human
Oh, no, don't go. I don't know the river, you know, though I want to do my best just to make Daddy proud of me,
gpt
Well then he should be a-yellin' like them crazy loons yonder on the observation train--that's what he should,