Page:Cornelia Meigs--The Pool of Stars.djvu/117

 above the bench and brought down his model.

"I have been thinking about such a design since I was ten years old," he said, "and the chance to build it has come at last. We will make them a real ship, Humphrey, and the whole world will open its eyes when it sees you sail her."

She grew up quickly on the ways, that ship of their very hearts' desire, with her bowsprit standing far out over the neighboring street, and with people stopping in the lane to watch Jonathan's whole force of workmen toiling up and down her timbered sides. Old Navy officers who had seen, some of them, the ships of the Revolution, and who had all fought in the War of Eighteen-twelve, would come to inspect her and would shake their heads.

"Look at that high, sharp bow," one would say; "such a craft will never be seaworthy in the world. Why can't these young fellows stick to the models we have tried out for them?"

"And see the spread of sail this drawing shows," another would comment, pointing fiercely with a stubby forefinger; "why, the whole ridiculous affair will capsize in the first good puff of wind! I'm thankful I don't have to go to sea in her."

But the two comrades closed their ears and sat, often far into the night, in the cramped little office, poring over drawings and comparing designs.

"You have her thought out to the last ring, block