The Substitute

"Short Cruises" by W. W. Jacobs is a collection of humorous stories featuring beloved characters, including a night watchman at Wapping docks who narrates lively tales of his friends. In "The Substitute," the watchman faces a series of amusing and awkward encounters with an office boy and a skipper with secrets, all while dealing with a surprise visit from the skipper's wife. The stories blend wit and humor, capturing the amusing misadventures of everyday characters.