omfortably
in a great arm-chair, "now that you've had a good look at the _Nonsuch_,
what do 'e think of her?"

"She is a splendid craft, and a perfect wonder, well worthy of her
name," pronounced George with enthusiasm. "I should not be surprised to
learn that she inaugurates an entirely new system of shipbuilding. She
would be the very ship, of all others, for such an adventure as mine;
but I suppose you have built her with an especial view to some
particular kind of service. Even if you have not, I very much doubt
whether I could raise the money in a reasonable time to buy her. What
price are you asking for her?"

"She is not for sale, boy," answered the old man with an inscrutable
smile. "I built her in order to put to the test certain theories o' my
own, and now, before ever she touches the water, I be sure, from the
look of her, that my theories be right. So I be going to keep her and
use her for my own purposes. And one o' they purposes be to make money
so fast as ever I can. I've got neither chick nor child to think about
and take care of, so my only pleasure in life be to build good ships and
make good money with 'em.

"Now, Garge, when I sat listenin' to you talkin' last night, I says to
myself--`There's money, and lots of it, in that there adventure o'
Garge's, if 'tis only worked right. But it'll want a good leader, and a
good ship; and young as Garge Saint Leger be, I do believe he've a-got
the brains and the courage for it, while I've got the ship. If I'd a
built the _Nonsuch_ expressly for such an adventure she couldn't ha'
been better suited for it.' So I comed home and thought the thing over
until I'd made up my mind about it. Now, Garge, I'm willin' to do this
for 'e. I'll launch the _Nonsuch_ just as sune as we can get the cradle
builded. Then, directly that she be afloat, I'll put on a strong gang
o' riggers to get her masts in and rigged and her spars across--the
sails be makin' now, and'll be finished by the time that she's ready vor
'em; and when she's all complete I'll fit her out in ordnance,
ammunition, and weapons of all sorts, and provision her for a year's
cruise, all at my own expense. You shall have her for your adventure
upon condition that you provide a sufficient crew for her, to my
satisfaction, and that, for the use of the ship and her equipment, I be
to have one half of all the treasure you brings home; the other half to
be disposed of as you thinks fit. Now, what d