ABOUT ALL KINDS OF SHIPS
rest are going to be drowned in a flood, and these are to renew the supply."
"A flood?"
"Yes, sir."
"Are you sure of that?"
"Perfectly sure. It is going to rain forty days and forty nights."
"Give yourself no concern about that, dear sir, it often does that here."
"Not this kind of rain. This is going to cover the mountain-tops, and the earth will pass from sight."
"Privately but of course not officially I am sorry you revealed this, for it compels me to with draw the option I gave you as to sails or steam. I must require you to use steam. Your ship cannot carry the hundredth part of an eleven-months water- supply for the animals. You will have to have con densed water."
"But I tell you I am going to dip water from out side with buckets."
"It will not answer. Before the flood reaches the mountain-tops the fresh waters will have joined the salt seas, and it will all be salt. You must put in steam and condense your water. I will now bid you good day, sir. Did I understand you to say that this was your very first attempt at ship-building?"
"My very first, sir, I give you the honest truth. I built this Ark without having, ever had the slight est training or experience or instruction in marine architecture.
"It is a remarkable work, sir, a most remarkable work. I consider that it contains more features that
�� �
