wave to speak of," added the veteran.
"See how fine her lines are fore and aft."
"And her gun power will be enormous!" said the Captain.
Hard by I espied a solitary being, who stood, chin in hand, lost in contemplation of this large vessel.
"Funnels or not, she's bigger than you thought?" I enquired of him.
He glanced at me, shook his head, sighed, and took himself by the chin again.
"Holy smoke!" said he.
"And you have been building ships for sixty years?" I asked of the venerable figure beside me.
"And more!" he answered; "and my father built ships hereabouts so long ago as 1820, and his grandfather before him."
"Back to the times of Nelson and Rodney and Anson," said I, "great seamen all, who fought great ships! What would they think of this one, I wonder?"
"That she was a worthy successor," replied the Master Builder, letting his eyes, so old and wise in ships, wander up