“We shall have to offer sailors ten times their usual pay,” continued Bunkichi; “you may then, perhaps, find fellows who will be willing to come. Will you be responsible for finding them?” So saying, he gave the captain money for the purpose, and, having intrusted the matter to him, at once went home to the Daikokuya and saw the master.
“Danna,” said he, “among your ships the oldest is that Tenjin-maru[[25]] of one thousand koku burthen, is it not?”
[25]. A Japanese junk.
The master, who was somewhat startled by the abruptness of the question, said: “Yes, she is getting to be an old vessel now, and I am thinking of breaking her up.”
“Will you sell her to me?”
To which the master answered: “If you want her, I don’t mind making you a present of her; but what use will you put her to?”
“I’m thinking of taking a cargo of oranges to Yedo,” was the lad’s reply.
“When the bad weather is over, I suppose?” said the master.
“No; while this stormy weather is prevailing,” was the reply.
The master was startled, but gazing on the boy for a moment, merely remarked: “What an extraordinary idea!”