He was getting on terms of real familiarity with it now, having lost some of the awe with which he had regarded it yesterday.

Today he called it "She" almost patronisingly and even dared lay his hand on the cylinders with a knowing cock of his head.

Perry, looking on, asked sarcastically if he was feeling the engine's pulse, and Joe haughtily replied that he wanted to make sure the cylinders weren't overheating.

Ossie, emerging from the cabin, wiping his hands on his khaki trousers after wringing out his dish cloths, gave it as his opinion that if there was any overeating done it would not be done by the engine, accompanying the statement with a meaning glance at Perry.
About this time the _Follow Me_ left her position astern and began to creep alongside.

Steve supposed she wanted to send a message across and told the others on the deck to keep still a minute.