Hard by I espied a solitary being, who stood, chin in hand, lost in contemplation of this large vessel.
"Funnels or not, she's bigger than you thought?" I enquired of him.
He glanced at me, shook his head, sighed, and took himself by the chin again.
"Holy smoke!" said he.
"And you have been building ships for sixty years?" I asked of the venerable figure beside me.
"And more!" he answered; "and my father built ships hereabouts so long ago as 1820, and his grandfather before him."
"Back to the times of Nelson and Rodney and Anson," said I, "great seamen all who fought great ships! What would they think of this one, I wonder?"
"That she was a worthy successor," replied the Master Builder, letting his eyes, so old and wise in ships, wander up and over the mighty fabric before us. "Yes," he nodded decisively, "she's worthy—like the men who will fight her one of these days."
"But our enemies and some of our friends rather thought we had degenerated these latter days," I suggested.
"Ah, well!" said he very quietly, "they know better now, don't you think?"