“While you would be turning on your heel.”
He took a chip of wood then from the shore, and asked Fin to turn on his heel. While Fin was turning, Three Sticks flung the piece of wood out on the sea, and there it became a beautiful ship.
“Well, have you the ship made?” asked Fin, looking on the strand.
“There it is,” said Three Sticks, “floating outside.”
Fin looked, and saw the finest vessel that ever sailed on the deep sea; the butt of no feather was in, nor the tip of one out, except one brown-backed red feather that stood at the top of the mast, and that making music and sport to encourage whatever champion would come on board.
“Will you all take service with me?” asked Fin, looking at the eight small strangers. “I wish to go to the kingdom of the Big Men. Will you guide me on the journey, and help me?”
“We are willing to serve you,” answered they. “There is no part of the world to which we cannot guide you.”
“What are your wages?” asked Fin.
“Five gold-pieces to each man of us for a day and a year.”