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cruise in the North Pacific； and he could not go back or make a port
without orders。 All the lawyer's money and baggage were in the blonde's
boat and went to the blonde's shipso his captain made him work his
passage as a common sailor。 When both ships had been cruising nearly a
year； the one was off the coast of Greenland and the other in Behring's
Strait。 The blonde had long ago been well…nigh persuaded that her lawyer
had been washed overboard and lost just before the whale ships reached
the raft； and now； under the pleadings of her parents and the Duke she
was at last beginning to nerve herself for the doom of the covenant； and
prepare for the hated marriage。
But she would not yield a day before the date set。 The weeks dragged on；
the time narrowed； orders were given to deck the ship for the weddinga
wedding at sea among icebergs and walruses。 Five days more and all would
be over。 So the blonde reflected； with a sigh and a tear。 Oh where was
her true loveand why； why did he not come and save her？ At that moment
he was lifting his harpoon to strike a whale in Behring's Strait； five
thousand miles away； by the way of the Arctic Ocean； or twenty thousand
by the way of the Hornthat was the reason。 He struck； but not with
perfect aimhis foot slipped and he fell in the whale's mouth and went
down his throat。 He was insensible five days。 Then he came to himself
and heard voices； daylight was streaming through a hole cut in the
whale's roof。 He climbed out and astonished the sailors who were
hoisting blubber up a ship's side。 He recognized the vessel； flew
aboard； surprised the wedding party at the altar and exclaimed：
〃Stop the proceedingsI'm here！ Come to my arms； my own！〃
There were foot…notes to this extravagant piece of literature wherein the
author endeavored to show that the whole thing was within the
possibilities； he said he got the incident of the whale traveling from
Behring's Strait to the coast of Greenland； five thousand miles in five
days； through the Arctic Ocean； from Charles Reade's 〃Love Me Little Love
Me Long；〃 and considered that that established the fact that the thing
could be done； and he instanced Jonah's adventure as proof that a man
could live in a whale's belly； and added that if a preacher could stand
it three days a lawyer could surely stand it five！
There was a fiercer storm than ever in the editorial sanctum now； and the
stranger was peremptorily discharged； and his manuscript flung at his
head。 But he had already delayed things so much that there was not time
for some one else to rewrite the chapter； and so the paper came out
without any novel in it。 It was but a feeble； struggling； stupid
journal； and the absence of the novel probably shook public confidence；
at any rate； before the first side of the next issue went to press； the
Weekly Occidental died as peacefully as an infant。
An effort was made to resurrect it； with the proposed advantage of a
telling new title； and Mr。 F。 said that The Phenix would be just the name
for it； because it would give the idea of a resurrection from its dead
ashes in a new and undreamed of condition of splendor； but some low…
priced smarty on one of the dailies suggested that we call it the
Lazarus； and inasmuch as the people were not profound in Scriptural
matters but thought the resurrected Lazarus and the dilapidated mendicant
that begged in the rich man's gateway were one and the same person； the
name became the laughing stock of the town； and killed the paper for good
and all。
I was sorry enough； for I was very proud of being connected with a
literary paperprouder than I have ever been of anything since； perhaps。
I had written some rhymes for itpoetry I considered itand it was a
great grief to me that the production was on the 〃first side〃 of the
issue that was not completed； and hence did not see the light。 But time
brings its revengesI can put it in here； it will answer in place of a
tear dropped to the memory of the lost Occidental。 The idea （not the
chief idea； but the vehicle that bears it） was probably suggested by the
old song called 〃The Raging Canal；〃 but I cannot remember now。 I do
remember； though； that at that time I thought my doggerel was one of the
ablest poems of the age：
THE AGED PILOT MAN。
On the Erie Canal； it was；
All on a summer's day；
I sailed forth with my parents
Far away to Albany。
From out the clouds at noon that day
There came a dreadful storm；
That piled the billows high about；
And filled us with alarm。
A man came rushing from a house；
Saying； 〃Snub up your boat I pray；
＇The customary canal technicality for 〃tie up。〃＇
Snub up your boat； snub up； alas；
Snub up while yet you may。〃
Our captain cast one glance astern；
Then forward glanced he；
And said； 〃My wife and little ones
I never more shall see。〃
Said Dollinger the pilot man；
In noble words； but few；
〃Fear not； but lean on Dollinger；
And he will fetch you through。〃
The boat drove on； the frightened mules
Tore through the rain and wind；
And bravely still； in danger's post；
The whip…boy strode behind。
〃Come 'board； come 'board；〃 the captain cried；
〃Nor tempt so wild a storm；〃
But still the raging mules advanced；
And still the boy strode on。
Then said the captain to us all；
〃Alas； 'tis plain to me；
The greater danger is not there；
But here upon the sea。
So let us strive； while life remains；
To save all souls on board；
And then if die at last we must；
Let 。 。 。 。 I cannot speak the word！〃
Said Dollinger the pilot man；
Tow'ring above the crew；
〃Fear not； but trust in Dollinger；
And he will fetch you through。〃
〃Low bridge！ low bridge！〃 all heads went down；
The laboring bark sped on；
A mill we passed； we passed church；
Hamlets； and fields of corn；
And all the world came out to see；
And chased along the shore
Crying； 〃Alas； alas； the sheeted rain；
The wind； the tempest's roar！
Alas； the gallant ship and crew；
Can nothing help them more？〃
And from our deck sad eyes looked out
Across the stormy scene：
The tossing wake of billows aft；
The bending forests green；
The chickens sheltered under carts
In lee of barn the cows；
The skurrying swine with straw in mouth；
The wild spray from our bows！
〃She balances！
She wavers！
Now let her go about！
If she misses stays and broaches to；
We're all〃then with a shout；＇
〃Huray！ huray！
Avast！ belay！
Take in more sail！
Lord； what a gale！
Ho； boy； haul taut on the hind mule's tail！〃
〃Ho！ lighten ship！ ho！ man the pump！
Ho； hostler； heave the lead！
〃A quarter…three！'tis shoaling fast！
Three feet large！t…h…r…e…e feet！
Three feet scant！〃 I cried in fright
〃Oh； is there no retreat？〃
Said Dollinger； the pilot man；
As on the vessel flew；
〃Fear not； but trust in Dollinger；
And he will fetch you through。〃
A panic struck the bravest hearts；
The boldest cheek turned pale；
For plain to all； this shoaling said
A leak had burst the ditch's bed！
And； straight as bolt from crossbow sped；
Our ship swept on； with shoaling lead；
Before the fearful gale！
〃Sever the tow…line！ Cripple the mules！〃
Too late！ There comes a shock！
Another length； and the fated craft
Would have swum in the saving lock！
Then gathered together the shipwrecked crew
And took one last embrace；
While sorrowful tears from despairing eyes
Ran down each hopeless face；
And some did think of their little ones
Whom they never more might see；
And others of waiting wives at home；
And mothers that grieved would be。
But of all the children of misery there
On that poor sinking frame；
But one spake words of hope and faith；
And I worshipped as they came：
Said Dollinger the pilot man；
（O brave heart； strong and true！）
〃Fear not； but trust in Dollinger；
For he will fetch you through。〃
Lo！ scarce the words have passed his lips
The dauntless prophet say'th；
When every soul about him seeth
A wonder crown his faith！
And count ye all； both great and small；
As numbered with the dead：
For mariner for forty year；
On Erie； boy and man；
I never yet saw such a storm；
Or one't with it began！〃
So overboard a keg of nails
And anvils three we threw；
Likewise four bales of gunny…sacks；
Two hundred pounds of glue；
Two sacks of corn； four ditto wheat；
A box of books； a cow；
A violin； Lord Byron's works；
A rip…saw and a sow。
A curve！ a curve！ the dangers grow！
〃Labbord！stabbord！s…t…e…a…d…y！so！
Hard…a…port； Dol！hellum…a…lee！
Haw the head mule！the aft one gee！
Luff！bring her to the wind！〃
For straight a farmer brought a plank；
（Mysteriously inspired）
And laying it unto the ship；
In silent awe retired。
Then every sufferer stood amazed
That pilot man before；
A moment stood。 Then wondering turned；
And speechless walked ashore。
CHAPTER LII。
Since I desire； in this chapter； to say an instructive word or two about
the silver mines； the reader may take this fair warning and skip； if he
chooses。 The year 1863 was perhaps the very top blossom and culmination
of the 〃flush times。〃 Virginia swarmed with men and vehicles to that
degree that the place looked like a very hivethat is when one's vision
could pierce through the thick fog of alkali dust that was