The Fox and the Faith [antikvár]

PROLOGUE She was laid to scale in the mould loft of Point Furness Yards according to the designs of Pietre Van Doorn, who thus paid for his fare to America. Master shipwrights scaled up the plans and drew them full size on the loft floor, then sent their timber crews beyond Chesapeake to find the great live oaks from which they would shape timbers. Her curving keel was trimmed and set on blocks in the fali of 1773. Stout framing timbers were cut, adze-hewn, and set in place upon the keel. The heavy mallets of muscled men drove great treenails into place to secure the sturdy timber knees and shaped ribwork that must support the weight and tensions of a working ship. Strong stern post was set in place, and stanchions to support tall masts and sturdy deck. She lay then through the winter, fine-curing in the sheltered air below the loft. With spring they were at work again, dressing timber beams and the broad planks which would enclose the hull-three inches thick for siding strakes, five 5