he situation of things, and the
mystery inflamed the imagination of the doctor. The sight of the brig
caused him transports of joy. From that day he stopped with Shandon,
and went every day to pay a visit to the shell of the _Forward_. Besides,
he was specially appointed to overlook the installation of the ship's
medicine-chest. For Dr. Clawbonny was a doctor, and a good one, though
practising little. At the age of twenty-five he was an ordinary
practitioner; at the age of forty he was a _savant_, well known in
the town; he was an influential member of all the literary and
scientific institutions of Liverpool. His fortune allowed him to
distribute counsels which were none the worse for being gratuitous;
beloved as a man eminently lovable must always be, he had never wronged
any one, not even himself; lively and talkative, he carried his heart
in his hand, and put his hand into that of everybody. When it was
known in Liverpool that he was going to embark on board the _Forward_
his friends did all they could to dissuade him, and only fixed him
more completely in his determination, and when the doctor was
determined to do anything no one could prevent him. From that time
the suppositions and apprehensions increased, but did not prevent
the _Forward_ being launched on the 5th of February, 1860. Two months
later she was ready to put to sea. On the 15th of March, as the letter
of the captain had announced, a dog of Danish breed was sent by railway
from Edinburgh to Liverpool, addressed to Richard Shandon. The animal
seemed surly, peevish, and even sinister, with quite a singular look
in his eyes. The name of the _Forward_ was engraved on his brass collar.
The commander installed it on board the same day, and acknowledged
its reception to K. Z. at Leghorn. Thus, with the exception of the
captain, the crew was complete. It was composed as follows:--

1. K. Z., captain; 2. Richard Shandon, commander; 3. James Wall, third
officer; 4. Dr. Clawbonny; 5. Johnson, boatswain; 6. Simpson,
harpooner; 7. Bell, carpenter; 8. Brunton, chief engineer; 9. Plover,
second engineer; 10. Strong (negro), cook; 11. Foker, ice-master;
12. Wolsten, smith; 13. Bolton, sailor; 14. Garry, sailor; 15. Clifton,
sailor; 16. Gripper, sailor; 17. Pen, sailor; 18. Warren, stoker.

CHAPTER IV

DOG-CAPTAIN

The day of departure arrived with the 5th of April. The admission
of the doctor on board had given the crew more confidence. They knew
that wh