March had arrived on Dotson Island. Spring was here, flowers were blooming, trees were turning green, and the grass was reappearing. The Donavan and Halee were busy, pulling passenger here and there. Visitors were coming for the spring and summer months. Barkers Bay was full of ships unloading passengers. One morning, Halee was sitting by the sea. He was waiting for his coaches to be shunted, Swan was running late. "Where could he be? He's normally never late." Said Halee. "Oh you engines. So unreliable." Said a voice. Halee was discussed. A small, purple and blue ferry was docked next to him and was being very rude. "If you ask me, I think the rails should have been scrapped when the railway closed. Water and roads are the way to go. Today i get to take someone very important across the island." She said. Halee was cross. He didn't know what to say. Then a whit and black tug boat came up beside her. "Please excuse Leftwich. She is kind of new, and were still trying to get some of the arrogance of of her." He said. "Leftwich? Why do they call you that?" Halee asked. "Because it is what they wrote on my side when I was built." She replied. Halee then noticed the word "Leftwich" written in white on her side. And the tug boat had "Booth" written on it. "Then you must be Booth?" He said. "Yes sir, that's me." Just then Swan rolled up with Halee's coaches. "Sorry I'm late, they were having trouble starting my fire." He said as they coupled up the coaches to Halee. "No time to chat or I'm gonna be late." And Halee chuffed away.
All day he thought about what Leftwich had said, "Engines are useless. I'll show her!" It bothered him all day. Later that evening, he was returning home when he saw a crowd gathered on the beach. He saw Leftwich had run a ground on a sandbar near the shore. He stopped and his driver motioned a man to come over. "Sir, could you please tell us what happen here." "Certainly." The man replied. "Well, I was enjoying myself in the dinning room. . ." He began. "When their was a sudden shaking, and the ship began to slowly tilt forward. Apparently the ship ran a ground on the sand bar. They shuttled us over here and said it could be a while before a tug boat with materials to fix the hull could arrive. We were all headed to Della, then to Weston by buses." His driver replied, " We'll be glad to take you, our coaches are empty. I'll speak with the captain." He left and returned a few minutes later. "Cleared with the captain." They loaded the passengers and left just as Booth arrived, Halee tooted his whistle at him. Booth replied with a cheerful honk.
When they arrived in Weston, the passengers couldn't be more pleased with Halee. "Thank you for taking us!" One of them said excitedly. Halee replied, "Your very welcome." Then he recognized her, this was the Mayor of Weston's wife! Then she said, "My husband was right! Always travel by land, that's the last time I travel by boat!" Then she walked away, and Halee couldn't wait until he saw Leftwich next.