I seized the helm, and soon set all right, determined not to trust my giddy son again.
Jack, of all my sons, was the one who evinced most taste for the sea; but being so young when we made our voyage, his knowledge of nautical affairs was very scanty.

My elder sons had learnt more.

Ernest, who had a great thirst for knowledge of every kind, had questioned the pilot on all he had seen him do.

He had learned a great deal in theory, but of practical knowledge he had none.

The mechanical genius of Fritz had drawn conclusions from what he saw; this would have induced me to place much trust in him in case of that danger which I prayed Heaven might be averted.