Chapter 2 Chapter Two An Unexpected Letter

This is Richard.The text of a letter Shandon received eight months earlier: AT Bordin, August 2nd, 1859 Richard.Mr Sandon Liverpool gentlemen: The purpose of this letter is to inform you that the Liverpool banker, M. M．Sixteen thousand pounds in the hands of Maccourt and C.Enclosed is a bill of exchange signed by me, please submit to the so-called M. M．Mr. Macouart repays the aforementioned £16,000. It's okay that you don't know me.I know you, and that's what matters. I put you on a long and dangerous expedition as first mate aboard the Vanguard. If not, that's okay.If it does, you will be paid twelve thousand five hundred francs, which will be increased by a tenth when it is due each year, for the duration of the expedition.

The Vanguard doesn't exist, you'll have to make it man-made, and have to go to sea no later than April 1860 at the latest.A detailed design drawing with an estimate is attached to the letter.Please strictly follow the drawings.The ship is in M. M．and C's workshop, they will bill you. I especially recommend you the crew of the Forward: its members are the captain, me, the first mate, you, the second mate, a bosun, two mechanics, a pilot, and eight sailors One and two stokers, eighteen in all, including the town doctor, Crowburne, who will report to you in due course. Those who join the expedition on the March should preferably be British, have freedom, have no family, be celibate, do not drink, because spirits and beer are not allowed on board, and be prepared to do and endure everything.When you choose a person, you'd better choose the kind of sanguine, so that they have the reproductive desire of animals at a higher level.

You pay them five times their usual salary, plus a tenth of their annual labor fee.When the expedition is over, pay each one twelve thousand five hundred francs, and keep five francs for yourself.The money has to go through M. M．Makuat and the hand of C have already been mentioned above. The expedition will be long and difficult, but also glorious.Don't hesitate, Mr. Sandon. Please send your reply to: Pick up at the office, Gottberg (Sweden), initial letter K. Z． . Also: on February 15th you will get a strong Dane with a drooping mouth, black fur and black stripes.You put it on board and feed it a soup of barley bread and oil.Your dog is from Livorno (Italy) with the same abbreviation above.

When the time comes, the captain of the Forward will announce his family and introduce himself.When you set off, you'll get new instructions. Captain of the March K． Z