Chapter 30

EXPLANATIONS--A LEAVE-TAKING--LOVE--CONFESSIONS, BUT NO PENITENCE.

A night of sweet repose left me refreshed, and with a pulse that
denoted less agitation than on the preceding day. I awoke early, had
a bath, and sent for Captain Poke to take his coffee with me, before
we parted; for it had been settled, the previous evening, that he
was to proceed towards Stunin'tun forthwith. My old messmate,
colleague, co-adventurer, and fellow-traveller, was not slow in
obeying the summons. I confess his presence was a comfort to me, for
I did not like looking at objects that had been so inexplicably
replaced before my eyes, unsupported by the countenance of one who
had gone through so many grave scenes in my company.

"This has been a very extraordinary voyage of ours, Captain Poke," I
remarked, after the worthy sealer had swallowed sixteen eggs, an
omelet, seven cotelettes, and divers accessories. "Do you think of
publishing your private journal?"

"Why, in my opinion, Sir John, the less that either of us says of
the v'y'ge the better."

"And why so? We have had the discoveries of Columbus, Cook,
Vancouver, and Hudson--why not those of Captain Poke?"

"To own the truth, we sealers do not like to speak of our cruising
grounds--and, as for these monikins, after all, what are they good
for? A thousand of them wouldn't make a quart of 'ile, and by all
accounts their fur is worth next to nothin'."

"Do you account their philosophy for nothing? and their
jurisprudence?--you, who were so near losing your head, and who did
actually lose your tail, by the axe of the executioner?"

Noah placed a hand behind him, fumbling about the seat of reason,
with evident uneasiness. Satisfied that no harm had been done, he
very coolly placed half a muffin in what he called his "provision
hatchway."

"You will give me this pretty model of our good old 'Walrus,'
captain?"

"Take it, o' Heaven's sake, Sir John, and good luck to you with it.
You, who give me a full-grown schooner, will be but poorly paid with
a toy."

"It's as like the dear old craft as one pea is like another!"

"I dare say it may be. I never knew a model that hadn't suthin' of
the original in it."

"Well, my good shipmate, we must part. You know I am to go and see
the lady who is soon to be my wife, and the diligence will be ready
to take you to Havre, before I return."

"God bless you! Sir John--God bless you!" Noah blew his nose till it
rung like a French horn. I thought his little coals of eyes were
glittering, too, more than common, most probably with moisture.