34 THE FISHERMAN’S BOY.

 

“¢ Father, we are coming up pretty near
the ship; how shall I stop? or we shall
run against her.’

“The fisherman looked over his shoulder,
—for you know, in rowing, a man sits back-
wards, —and then said,

“<P 1 tell you when you get near enough,
and then you must put the helm hard a-port,
and that will carry the head of the boat
round, and bring us up alongside.’

“So they went on, the fisherman looking
over his shoulder occasionally, and at last,
just as they were coming up to the ship, he
called out to Jock,

“ «Helm a-port ; — hard a-port.’

« So Jock crowded the tiller hard a-port,
and his father, at the same moment, drew in
his oars, and rose from his seat, and stepped
to the bows. The boat came rapidly round,
and swept finely up alongside of the ship.

«“¢Well done, my little pilot,’ said the
men in theship. ‘ You brought the boat up
alongside like an old sailor.’

“<¢My father told me how,’ said Jock.

“¢That’s right, my boy,’ said ore of the
men; ‘always obey your father ; especially
when he’s captain to boot.’