ild autumn. The _Robert Cassall_ had not
a nail or bolt in her that was not scrutinized by a stern critic. "Never
mind fancy work or fancy speed. Give me perfect collision bulk-heads;
perfect watertight compartments; make her unsinkable, and I don't care
if you only make her travel ten knots--that's good enough for the North
Sea."

Powys asked and obtained an assistant to take a turn on the day or night
shifts, and the British workmen were held hard in hand by two acute and
most critical mariners.

Robert Cassall had value for every penny of his money, but he certainly
did not spare the place. His friend the yacht-builder twice came to see
how the work was going on, and he said, "You'll be able to run her round
the Horn if you like. You see I took care that she shouldn't kick like
those steam-carriers. You'll find her as stiff as they make them."

Sir John Rooby resolved that the peerless engines which he provided
should be fitted under cover, so, as soon as the hull was completed, the
engineers began their work; and as it turned out, the experiment of
launching a boat with all engines complete was an entire success. Sir
James Eoche came and watched the fitting of all the appliances designed
by him, and it seemed that he was as exquisite in mechanical skill as he
was sagacious in treatment of disease. Ferrier was afraid that the
vehement old man would wear him out, but he bottled his impatience, and
sought repose in the gentle society of Sir James. The two medicos
pottered on with pulleys and wheels and inclined planes with much
contentment, and they satisfied themselves at last that a man might be
picked up in any sea, and swiftly placed under cover, without sustaining
a jar severe enough to hurt even a gouty subject.

Cassall did not like the workmen to be discontented over his incessantly
vigilant superintendents, so, with his inexhaustible good-humour and
resolution, he hit on a mode of conciliation. He met both shifts on a
Friday, and said, "Now, men, I'm not a bad sort even if I _am_
determined not to have a scamped nail in my vessel. Now you're working
hard, and we'll show the prettiest vessel in England presently, so
to-morrow we'll have two brakes here at eleven o'clock, all who like
will drive to a certain little place that I know of, and we'll have a
rare good dinner together, and come home in the evening. We'll have no
spirits, and no shaky hands for Monday. Plenty of good, pure spring
water with orange