human
I hardly dare ask about provisions he began
gpt
I’m sorry to tell you that we brought very little. The fire cleaned out our galley and store-rooms first of all, and we were barely able to save a meal or two of biscuits and canned grub
human
We can furnish provisions to go with the water, Captain
gpt
What!—without allowance?
human
Without allowance said I
gpt
I never liked the idea of putting people on an allowance; it’s too much like starving yourself by degrees. I can guarantee you provisions to last us for a month or six weeks, three good meals a day; and we can’t in common fortune be out that long. The best of provisions, I think you’ll find
human
How does it happen, sir?
gpt
It doesn’t happen. We’re always prepared for just such an emergency. More than once I’ve met a ship short of provisions, and furnished her with a boatload or two. You can’t anticipate what is liable to happen; but a lazaret full of beef and flour and potatoes fills in almost anywhere
human
I’ve often heard it said that American ships were remarkably well-found he observed
gpt
But I shouldn’t have believed a yarn like this from my best friend. Let’s see, we’ve brought you three times your ordinary ship’s company; and you have provisions and water for all hands to last longer than twice your usual run to New York. Are you positive, sir?
human
Positive. Give yourself no further worry on that score
gpt
Back there in the boats said Captain Potter
human
I was thinking that, if God was good to us, we might be picked up by some Slavonian bark, with only macaroni enough aboard to take him to the Banks of Newfoundland, where he’d depend on catching a few codfish, and water or not according as it rained. Then it would have been a case of Halifax or St. Johns, or else a transfer in open boats to another vessel, with more danger to my passengers and crew. This, Captain, seems like a pleasant dream