human
Schooner,
gpt
Yes, said Uncle Paul;
human
Well-found,
gpt
Of course, and with a good crew.
human
Yes. Can you show me where I can get such an one?
gpt
No. Look-out.
human
Dunno as I don't, he roared.
gpt
What do you say to a horange boat?
human
Orange boat? cried Rodd.
gpt
Why, uncle's been thinking of one of those!
human
Well, why not? said the captain;
gpt
Yes,
human
Well-built, fast, plenty of room below for cargo or what not, plenty of provisions and water, but no guns.
gpt
That's just the sort of vessel I want, cried Uncle Paul.
human
Do you think one's to be had over there?
gpt
Sure on it. See one last week as they was just getting up her standing rigging.
human
What, a new one?
gpt
Ay. Fresh launched, and being made ready for sea.
human
Capital! cried Uncle Pad.
gpt
Who does she belong to?
human
Ship-builder as yet.
gpt
And what would be her price?
human
Dunno. All depends, grunted the captain.
gpt
Most likely as much as the builder could get; but if a man went with the money in his pocket, or say in the bank, ready to pay down on the nail, he could get a smart craft that would do him justice at a fair working price. What do you say to coming over and having a look at her?
human
Yes. How are we to get there? By coach?
gpt
Tchah! ejaculated the skipper.
human
Who's going in a coach when he can be run over in one of our luggers? You say the word, and I have got a friend with a little fore-and-after as only wants him and a hand and mebbe me to give a pull at a sheet. He'd run you over in no time.
gpt
By all means, then, let's go,
human
Well, yes, growled the skipper.
gpt
But who's a-going with you?
human
My nephew,
gpt
Ah, yes; and I suppose he's a good judge of such a craft, and could vally her from keel to truck. Don't seem a bad sort of boy, but he won't do. Nay, squire, you want somebody as you can trust. A'n't you got an old friend, ship-owner or ship's husband--man who's got his head screwed on the right way, one you knows as honest and won't take a hundred pounds from t'other side to sell the ship for them?
human
Well, no; I'm afraid I don't know such a man,
gpt
Have to find one, grunted the skipper.
human
Won't do to buy a ship with your eyes shut. Got yourself to think of as well as your money. You don't want to engage a skipper and a crew of good men and true, and drownd them all at sea.
gpt
Well, no, said Uncle Paul dryly;
human
No, uncle, but no man would be such a wretch as to sell you a ship that wasn't safe.
gpt
Not unless he got the chanst, said the skipper, frowning.
human
I know some on them, and what they have done, and I don't want to command a craft like that. Been at sea too long.
gpt
Well, then, said Uncle Paul,
human
Dessay I could, said the skipper,
gpt
But you ought to be a good judge,
human
Mebbe, but I wouldn't go by my own opinion if it was my trade instead of yourn.
gpt
But look here, cried Uncle Paul,
human
I should like you to see the vessel and act for me.
gpt
Tchah! Not likely, squire. What do you know about me?
human
Well, not much, certainly, said Uncle Paul,
gpt
Of course; and if you didn't like me, and I warn't up to my work, why, you could get rid of me. But that's a very different thing to buying a ship.
human
Yes, said Uncle Paul,
gpt
Oh yes, I think so.
human
Couldn't he give good references?
gpt
Well, yes. Old established; built a lot of craft. Dessay he'd find a few to say a word for him.
human
And I suppose I could have the opinion of some well-known ship valuer?
gpt
Yes, grunted the skipper,
human
Such as you,
gpt
Well, mebbe, he said,
human
Well, we'll talk about that another time, said Uncle Paul.
gpt
What I want is for you to help me by going over with us to have a look at the schooner.
human
Ah!
gpt
And you may as well give me a reference or two to somebody who knows your abilities--somebody well-known in Plymouth, a ship-owner, somebody for whom you have sailed. Will you do this?
human
Ay,
gpt
Well, whose name will you give me? To whom shall I apply?
human
Anybody. Everybody in Plymouth.
gpt
That's rather wide,
human
Wider the better, said the skipper.
gpt
You ask the lot what they thinks of Captain Chubb.
human
Time to-morrow will you be ready to start?
gpt
At your time,
human
Say nine?
gpt
Certainly; nine o'clock to-morrow morning,
human
Good. I will be off the landing-place at the Barbican with a boat. Night, sir. Night, youngster. Natural history expedition, eh? And I thought you was going blackbirding! Haw, haw, haw!