Posted by Ian E-N on July 17, 2006 at 19:20:26 from 86.130.80.37 user IanEN.
In Reply to: Re: the "Walkers" vs. THE Walker posted by PeterH on July 17, 2006 at 16:50:01:
There's also Joshua Slocum's usage of "John Walker" in Sailing Alone Around the World [ "Boys who do not like this book ought to be drowned at once." (Arthur Ransome) ] , Chapter XXI
"The great King Neptune tested me severely at this time, for the stay being gone, the mast itself switched about like a reed, and was not easy to climb; but a gun-tackle purchase was got up, and the stay set taut from the masthead, for I had spare blocks and rope on board with which to rig it, and the jib, with a reef in it, was soon pulling again like a "sodger" for home. Had the Spray's mast not been well stepped, however, it would have been "John Walker" when the stay broke. Good work in the building of my vessel stood me always in good stead. "