"Yes, a great many; but it never loses its attraction for me."

"Oh, look, look, papa!" cried Max; "there's a fisherman going out; he
has his dory down on the beach, and is just watching for the right wave
to launch it. I never can see the difference in the waves--why one is
better than half a dozen others that he lets pass. Can you, sir?"

"No," acknowledged the captain; "but let us watch now and try to make
out his secret."

They did watch closely for ten minutes or more, while wave after wave
came rushing in and broke along the beach, the fisherman's eyes all the
while intent upon them as he stood motionless beside his boat; then
suddenly seeming to see the right one--though to the captain and Max it
did not look different from many of its neglected predecessors--he gave
his dory a vigorous push that sent it out upon the top of that very
wave, leaped into the stern, seized his oars, and with a powerful stroke
sent the boat out beyond the breakers.

"Bravo!" cried Max, clapping his hands and laughing with delight; "see,
papa, how nicely he rides now on the long swells! How I should like to
be able to manage a boat like that. May I learn if I have the chance?"

"Yes," said his father; "I should like to have you a proficient in all
manly accomplishments, only don't be foolhardy and run useless risks. I
want my son to be brave, but not rash; ready to meet danger with
coolness and courage when duty calls, and to have the proper training
to enable him to do so intelligently, but not to rush recklessly into it
to no good end."