Also, when I get discouraged over my novel, it reminds me that, however bad the yarn may turn out to be, I have committed worse crimes." This led to the captain's asking about the novel and how it was progressing.

His companion admitted having made some progress, more in the line of revision than anything else.

He had remodeled his hero somewhat, in accordance with his new friend's suggestions during their interview at the Warren apartment, and had introduced other characters, portrait sketches from memory of persons whom he had known in his boyhood days in the Maine town.

He read a few chapters aloud, and Captain Elisha waxed almost enthusiastic over them.
Then followed a long discussion over a point of seamanship, the handling of a bark in a gale.

It developed that the young author's knowledge of saltwater strategy was extensive and correct in the main, though somewhat theoretical.