This reviewer, always a fan, was privileged to meet with Howard Pease in 1943 when at age 52 he had just completed Night Boat, a copy of which was autographed for this reviewer. Pease was most cordial and an excellent speaker; he spent many of his hours in those days helping teachers learn how to interest their students in writing and reading.
Perhaps his greatest contribution was enticing boys of middle school age to venture into the library—searching for more books written by Howard Pease or similar writers of adventure stories.