“No, I shall be greatly disappointed if it stops within two or three days.”
“Well, there’s not much chance of its doing so,” was the sailor’s answer.
“That’s good,” the boy replied. “Before it stops what do you say to having a sail in a boat from here to Yedo? It would be fine, wouldn’t it?”
Kichidayu stared at Bunkichi in astonishment and said: “Don’t joke, please. If we were to put out a boat in this rough sea, it would capsize in no time.”
“That’s just where the interest lies. Wouldn’t Kichidayu San like to try it for once?” said the lad, while the other replied, laughing, “Don’t carry your joking too far!”
Bunkichi became serious. “Kichidayu San, I’m not joking. If it was an east or a north wind it would be difficult, of course, but being a west wind, it’s a fair wind toward Yedo, however strong it may be, and so there is no reason why we should not be able to get to Yedo.”
Kichidayu, who thought that Bunkichi was saying rather a strange thing, answered: “If we should have good luck, I don’t say that it’s impossible; however, I do say it could only be a question of good luck.”
“That’s just where the interest lies,” said the lad again. “One can do anything that others can do. But it’s a fine thing for a man to go to a place when others can’t go. Kichidayu San, the time has now come to make that fortune of money of which I told you once, because in Yedo the price of oranges, which are one of the necessaries of the bellows festival, has gone up ten times higher than at other times, on account of the scarcity of the fruit. Here, in this port, where the oranges have accumulated because they can find no customers, the price has gone down ten times lower than the rate at which they usually sell. So, if we can buy at a price ten times lower than the usual rate, and sell at a price ten times higher than the usual rate, naturally a hundred rio will make ten thousand rio. There isn’t likely to come such a good chance twice in a lifetime. As to the ship, I will ask the master of the Daikokuya to let me have a big one, and if he does, will you captain it for me? I intend to take out in it a large cargo of oranges to Yedo while this bad weather prevails.” The lad thus for the first time revealed his ambitious scheme.
Kichidayu folded both his arms on his breast in contemplation. Then, as he lifted his head, he said: “I will make the attempt—yes, even to Yedo, for your sake; I don’t grudge even my life. What if my ship gets wrecked? I don’t care. But are you thinking of coming on board?”
“Of course; if I don’t go, the business can’t be effected,” said Bunkichi. “Trading is the same as a battle. In one of the battles of old the warrior Yoshisune set us an example by attacking the army of the Hei clan in the province of Shikoku by sending out the war vessels from Daimotsuga-Ura on a stormy night. If we lose courage in such weather as this, we cannot possibly accomplish any great scheme. We shall enter upon it resolutely. Should we die, let us die together. If I gain my object, I will handsomely reward you.