I 'm bound to get the better of you in the long run , whether in the body or out of the body . ' '' One night , by the fireside at the light Anne saw Captain Jim 's `` life-book . '' He needed no coaxing to show it and proudly gave it to her to read . `` I writ it to leave to little Joe , '' he said . `` I do n't like the idea of everything I 've done and seen being clean forgot after I 've shipped for my last v ` yage . Joe , he 'll remember it , and tell the yarns to his children . '' It was an old leather-bound book filled with the record of his voyages and adventures . Anne thought what a treasure trove it would be to a writer . Every sentence was a nugget . In itself the book had no literary merit ; Captain Jim 's charm of storytelling failed him when he came to pen and ink ; he could only jot roughly down the outline of his famous tales , and both spelling and grammar were sadly askew . But Anne felt that if anyone possessed of the gift could take that simple record of a brave , adventurous life , reading between the bald lines the tales of dangers staunchly faced and duty manfully done , a wonderful story might be made from it . Rich comedy and thrilling tragedy were both lying hidden in Captain Jim 's `` life-book , '' waiting for the touch of the master hand to waken the laughter and grief and horror of thousands . Anne said something of this to Gilbert as they walked home . `` Why do n't you try your hand at it yourself , Anne ? '' Anne shook her head . `` No . I only wish I could . But it 's not in the power of my gift . You know what my forte is , Gilbert -- the fanciful , the fairylike , the pretty . To write Captain Jim 's life-book as it should be written one should be a master of vigorous yet subtle style , a keen psychologist , a born humorist and a born tragedian .
A rare combination of gifts is XXXXX .
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