“Now, at once,” answered Bunkichi.
“That is rushing it too quickly, my lad. Wouldn’t it be better for you to wait till to-morrow?” remonstrated the master.
“Unless things of this kind are done quickly and made easy work of, some obstacles may arise and frustrate our plans; so I will just do it with as little concern as you snap your fingers,” said the lad.
“You can’t do things so lightly as you say,” was the master’s reply.
And his wife, who had been listening, and who regretted having given her consent to the boy’s rash project, added: “Bunkichi, do stay at home to-day and spend it in preparation and do the work to-morrow.”
And the little girl also said: “I don’t care for your going to sea.”
But Bunkichi, having once made up his mind in the matter, was not to be moved by any one’s entreaties.
“Then, by your leave, sir,” he said, “I will take that little boat at the jetty.” And without more delay he rose up to go.
His master knew not how to stop him, but said: “No, no; that small boat is dangerous; and, if you must go, you had better go out in the temmabune.”[[14]]
[14]. Pronounced Tem-mah-bonn’ay. A larger boat.