--in fact, ever since I first took to the
sea--and hope to end my days with them. They are now building a steamer
for me; and as soon as this craft is sold I am to go and supervise the
work upon her."

"Ah," I remarked, "an excellent arrangement. And now, captain, tell me,
as between man and man, have you ever discovered any faults in the
_Esmeralda_--anything you would like to have had altered in her, had
such alteration been possible? You have commanded her for some time, I
suppose?"

"Ever since she was launched," was the reply, "and a sweeter little
vessel, in every way, doesn't float. As to faults, she has none, to my
thinking. She is not a great cargo-carrier, it is true; in fact, her
lines are so fine that the amount of her register tonnage, in dead
weight, just puts her down to Plimsoll's mark. Some men would no doubt
consider this a serious fault; but I do not, for what she wants in
carrying capacity she more than makes up in speed; so that when the
whole thing comes to be worked out, putting her earnings against her
expenses, she carries her tonnage at a less cost than any other ship I
happen to be acquainted with."

"Is she tight?"

I asked.

"Tight as a bottle, sir. Why, she don't make enough water to keep her
sweet! And strong!--just look at her copper--not a wrinkle in it; and
yet I tell you, sir, that I have habitually driven this little ship so
hard that she has made faster passages than any other ship in the trade.
Why, we made the run from these same docks to Natal in fifty-five days,
on one trip; and we have never taken longer than seventy days to do it.
And a prettier sea-boat you never set eyes on. And weatherly--why,
she'll weather on craft twice her size. As to speed, I have never yet
seen anything beat her. The fact is, sir, she is much too good to be a
cargo-carrier; she is good enough in every way to be used as a yacht;
and a fine, wholesome, comfortable yacht she would make, too."

This was all exceedingly satisfactory; and so, too, was everything I saw
down below. The saloon was beautifully fitted up in white and gold,
with a rich carpet on the floor; a handsome mahogany table laid
athwartships; revolving chairs; sofa lockers; a beautiful swinging-lamp,
aneroid, and tell-tale compass hung in the skylight; pictures were let
into the panelling; there was a noble sideboard; and a piano! The
berths, too, were lofty and roomy, especially the family cabins abaft,
which were lig