He was old and must be resigned to sit at his desk and plan, but, as a rule, his plans worked, and he had a talent for choosing his tools.

When it was possible, he used his tools carefully; he hated to overstrain fine material.
_Terrier's_ regular lurch and roll indicated that she was steaming along the coast, in some shelter from the wind that blew obliquely off the land.

By and by, however, the lurches got violent, and when Lister heard the thud of water on deck he went up, and opening the door on the lee side, looked out.

Water splashed against the ledge that protected the engine-room; the stack of coal worked and he heard big lumps fall.

Spray blew across the bulwarks and fell in heavy showers from a boat on the skids.