“Yes, sir, with any vessels which were to be had,” said the Captain. “But you are right about triremes. It has always been a great puzzle to me how those triremes could have been worked. How do you understand the three banks of oars, Mr. Brown?”
“Well, sir, I suppose they must have been one above the other somehow.”
“But the upper bank must have had oars twenty feet long, and more, in that case,” said the Captain. “You must allow for leverage, you see.”
“Of course, sir. When one comes to think of it, it isn't easy to see how they were manned and worked,” said Tom.
“Now my notion about triremes—” began the Captain, holding the head of his stick with both hands, and looking across at Tom.
“Why, father!” cried Hardy, returning at the moment with the pipes, and catching the Captain's last word, “on one of your hobby horses already! You're not safe!—I can't leave you for two minutes. Here's a long pipe for you. How in the world did he get on triremes?”
“I hardly know,” said Tom; “but I want to hear what Captain Hardy thinks about them. You were saying, sir, that the upper oars must have been twenty feet long at least.”
“My notion is—” said the Captain, taking the pipe and tobacco-pouch from his son's hand.
“Stop one moment,” said Hardy; “I found Blake at my rooms, and asked him to come over here. You don't object?”
“Object, my dear fellow! I'm much obliged to you. Now, Hardy, would you like to have anyone else? I can send in a minute.”