Such is a specimen of old Fleming's style of conversation.  Gerard and I used to be much amused while listening to him, though we did not fail to make the most of his remarks while repeating them to the mates.  James Pincott the carpenter, on the contrary, was a great reformer.  No invention was too new to suit his taste.  Whenever he heard of any discovery, he could not be contented till he saw it introduced.  We often tried to get the two together, and very soon managed to throw an apple of discord between them.  Pincott occupied much of his thoughts about a flying-machine, which no failure had taught him to believe could not be made to work.