“How long shall you be gone?” asked Hans.
“Oh, a year, I guess, or more or less,’ answered Billy, “depending on the time it takes. What kind of ship can you give me for my voyage?”
“What kind of ship do you wish?” asked Hans.
“Oh, anything at all,’ replied Billy; “anything at all that will carry me over the sea.”
“‘How long shall you be gone?’ asked the Old Woman.
“Then no doubt I can please you,” said Hans; “I make ships for the King.”
“Let me see them,” said Billy.
“Now?” asked Hans, in surprise. “I cannot show you any now,—I build ships for people, and they take them away. I have none here now. But I can build a fine ship for you. See, here are my models.” And he showed Billy many models of ships, long and short, wide and narrow, brigs, schooners, and men-of-war, with masts and spars and ropes and sails complete in every part.
“These are all very fine,” said Billy, “but I cannot wait for you to build a ship,—I want a ship now, as I have set out on my adventures.”
“Mercy on us,” cried Hans, “what a hurry you are in! But I think you will have to wait, for I have nothing at all for you now.”
“Nevertheless,” said Billy, “I must have a boat now. I will take one of these models.”
“I cannot part with any of them,” said Hans; “they are my patterns, and I cannot spare them.”
“No doubt you can make others,” said Billy, “and I will pay you well’; and he laid three pieces of gold in the Shipbuilder’s hand.
Then Billy took his pick of all the models, and chose one with a very large sail and a small wooden sailor standing in the bow. Then he took the boat in his arms and went down and launched it in the Very Wet Sea.
“It is plain,’ said Billy to himself, “that my boat must be larger or I must be smaller,—and I have a mind to leave the boat as it is.”
Then he took the stick from his belt and waved it above his head. He felt himself slowly shrinking. The more he waved the smaller he got, and
