“It won’t have the same effect now as it had years ago, that’s certain,” said Uncle Bill.
So each boy loaded himself with the whitened bones of the whale while the elders slowly retraced their steps. At the clearing where the picnic was held, Mose was found taking advantage of the peace by enjoying a well-earned snooze.
The chef was roused by the noise made by the returning explorers and Billy eagerly showed him the souvenirs.
“Whale bones, Mose—the same one Uncle Bill found when he was a boy.”
“What! Whalebones! Yo’ don’ mean t’ tell me dat dem things is what dey puts in ladies co—yo’ know, dat—dat—well, yo’ all knows what Ah means! Dem articles what d’ ladies wear t’ mek ’em look slim,” delicately hinted Mose.
Every one ha-haed at the manner of Mose’s questioning, and Uncle Bill explained that the whalebone of commerce and corsets came from the rows of screen plates that are so arranged in a whale’s mouth that all of his food is strained out from his sea-water soup.
“Jus’ lak’ es how it woul’ be ef yo’ took a mouf-ful ov chowder en’ shet yer teeth t’ keep in d’ clams whiles yo’ squirt out all d’ water, eh?” asked Mose, eagerly.
“Just so, only more so!” laughed Uncle Bill.
After a light supper on the picnic grounds, haste was made to embark. The tide was ebbing and there was no wind so the dory was filled with the boxes and baskets and towed behind the launch.
As the mariners came out from the shadow of the overhanging bluffs of Spruce Island the moon, still in its last quarter, shone silvery white in the heavens and the stars sparkled with unusual brightness. The Woodcrafters gazed at the blue dome overhead, and started talking about the constellations.