MARK TWAIN
" Have the men?"
"No, sir."
"Have any of you ever been to sea?"
"No, sir."
"Where were you reared?"
"On a farm all of us."
"This vessel requires a crew of eight hundred men, she not being a steamer. You must provide them. She must have four mates and nine cooks. Who is captain?"
"lam, sir."
"You must get a captain. Also a chambermaid. Also sick-nurses for the old people. Who designed this vessel?"
"I did, sir."
"Is it your first attempt?"
"Yes, sir."
"I partly suspected it. Cargo?"
"Animals."
"Kind?"
"All kinds."
"Wild, or tame?"
"Mainly wild."
"Foreign or domestic?"
"Mainly foreign."
"Principal wild ones?"
Megatherium, elephant, rhinoceros, lion,tiger, wolf , snakes all the wild things of all climes two of each.
"Securely caged?"
"No, not caged.
"They must have iron cages. Who feeds and waters the menagerie?"
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