‘For the present needs of civilisation, yes; but the rest are going to be drowned in a flood, and these are to renew the supply.’
‘A flood?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Are you sure of that?’
‘Perfectly sure. It is going to rain forty days and forty nights.’
‘Give yourself no concern about that, dear sir, it often does that here.’
‘Not this kind of rain. This is going to cover the mountain-tops, and the earth will pass from sight.’
‘Privately—but of course not officially—I am sorry you revealed this, for it compels me to withdraw the option I gave you as to sails or steam. I must require you to use steam. Your ship cannot carry the hundredth part of an eleven-months’ water-supply for the animals. You will have to have condensed water.’
‘But I tell you I am going to dip water from outside with buckets.’
‘It will not answer. Before the flood reaches the mountain-tops the fresh waters will have joined the salt seas, and it will all be salt. You must put in steam and condense your water. I will now bid you good-day, sir. Did I understand you to say that this was your very first attempt at ship-building?’