These new theories created an immense sensation; and whatever opinion there may have been had before about the captain’s seamanship, there was no question now as to the perfect originality of his views.
XXII.
Being jolly under creditable Circumstances.—Songs, Medleys, Choruses, Cheers, Laughter, Speeches, Responses.—The Mud again.—Hard and fast.—What’ll you do now, my Boy?
MR. LONG had gone from their gaze completely, and could be seen no more. While trying to find him, the boys made conjectures as to where he might be. Giving up all idea of his being on the beach, they imagined him wending his solitary way far up the coast, or, perhaps, scaling the mighty cliff itself in some more accessible place. Gradually the vessel drifted farther and farther away, until at length it was far up in Minas Basin.
“Well, boys,” said Bart, “this is getting to be monotonous. We’re like ferrymen, going forever between two points.”
“Yes, or like the pendulum of a clock, vibrating always, backward and forward.”
“One more night of drifting is before us.”
“More meals of pork and molasses.”
“Or burnt Indian paste.”