When a water-clerk who possesses Ability in the abstract has also the advantage of having been brought up to the sea, he is worth to his employer a lot of money and some humouring.

Jim had always good wages and as much humouring as would have bought the fidelity of a fiend.

Nevertheless, with black ingratitude he would throw up the job suddenly and depart.

To his employers the reasons he gave were obviously inadequate.

They said 'Confounded fool!' as soon as his back was turned.