But Mr. Bobbsey liked his faithful employee, and kept him at work, and
since Mr. White could not do heavy tasks, he was allowed to do easy
ones.

Mr. White was called "Captain" by every one, though he was not really
a captain. Still, he knew a great deal about boats, the weather clouds
and storms, and all things such as sea captains are supposed to know.

When Mr. Bobbsey bought Mr. Marvin's houseboat, he at once began to
think of some one who could sail it for him, and take care of the
gasoline engine. Naturally, he thought of Captain White. So the
Bluebird was put in charge of Captain White, who, you may be sure, was
very glad to be on the water again, even if it was only in a slow-
moving houseboat, and not in a swift steam tug.

Mr. Bobbsey and Captain White were down in the motor, or engine room
together. Mr. Bobbsey was learning how to run the gasoline engine.

I have told you how the Bluebird was driven along through the water by
a small engine. It was not a steam engine, such as are found in many
boats, but a gasoline one, such as those in most automobiles.

Mr. Bobbsey did not intend to sail very fast in the houseboat. In
fact, for many days, he expected to just drift along, or push the boat
with a long pole through some shallow creek, or in parts of the lake
where it was not deep. When he wanted to move more quickly from place
to place, there was the gasoline engine all ready to use. And Captain
White knew how to use it.