I don't know much about boats, but I know enough to be aware without your telling me, that this affair is not a battle-ship, tug, collier, brig, lugger, barge or gravy-boat.

Neither is it a dhow, gig or skiff.

But that does not affect the validity of my criticism that you have forgotten an important factor in her successful use as a sailing craft." "What is it ?" he demanded, curtly.
"An ocean," said I."How the dickens do you expect to sail a boat like that off here in the woods, where there isn't enough water to float a parlor-match ?" He laughed quietly as I advanced this objection, and for the first time in his life gave evidence of the haunting idea that later took complete possession of his mind.
"Time enough for that," said he.

"There'll be more ocean around here some day than you can keep off with a million umbrellas, and don't you forget it." Somehow or other his reply irritated me.

The idea seemed so preposterously absurd.