you see, by my iron work.

'"I could do it better now," I said. The more I studied my squabby
Neptunes the less I liked 'em; and Arion was a pure flaming shame atop
of the unbalanced dolphins.

'"I doubt it will be fresh expense to draft it again," he says.

'"Bob never paid me for the first draft. I lay he'll never pay me for
the second. 'Twill cost the King nothing if I re-draw it," I says.

'"There's a woman wishes it to be done quickly," he says. "We'll stick
to your first drawing, Mus' Dawe. But thirty pounds is thirty pounds.
You must make it less."

'And all the while the faults in my draft fair leaped out and hit me
between the eyes. At any cost, I thinks to myself, I must get it back
and re-draft it. He grunts at me impatiently, and a splendid thought
comes to me, which shall save me. By the same token, 'twas quite
honest.'

'They ain't always,' said Mr. Springett. 'How did you get out of it?'

'By the truth. I says to Master Fur Cap, as I might to you here, I
says, "I'll tell you something, since you seem a knowledgeable man. Is
the _Sovereign_ to lie in Thames river all her days, or will she take
the high seas?"

'"Oh," he says quickly, "the King keeps no cats that don't catch mice.
She must sail the seas, Master Dawe. She'll be hired to merchants for
the trade. She'll be out in all shapes o' weathers. Does that make any
odds?"

'"Why, then," says I, "the first heavy sea she sticks her nose into 'll
claw off half that scroll-work, and the next will finish it. If she's
meant for a pleasure-ship give me my draft again, and I'll porture you a
pretty, light piece of scroll-work, good, cheap. If she's meant for the
open sea, pitch the draft into the fire. She can never carry that weight
on her bows."

'He looks at me squintlings and plucks his under-lip.

'"Is this your honest, unswayed opinion?" he says.

'"Body o' me! Ask about!" I says. "Any seaman could tell you 'tis true.
I'm advising you against my own profit, but why I do so is my own
concern."

'"Not altogether," he says. "It's some of mine. You've saved me thirty
pounds, Master Dawe, and you've given me good arguments to use against a
wilful woman that wants my fine new ship for her own toy. We'll not have
any scroll-work." His face shined with pure joy.

'"Then see that the thirty pounds you've saved on it are honestly paid
the King," I says, "and keep clear o' womenfolk." I gathered up my
draft and crumpled it under my arm. "If that's