in any case, for so extraordinary a relation
could, from such people, have earned me but one of two opinions: either
that I was mad and believed in an impossibility, or that I was a rogue
and dealt in magic, and to be vehemently shunned. Yet there were wonders
enough in my story without this, and I recited it to a running
commentary of all sorts of queer Yankee exclamations.

There were seven seamen and the captain and I made nine, and we pretty
nearly filled the cook-room. 'Twas a scene to be handled by a Dutch
brush. We were a shaggy company, in several kinds of rude attire, and
the crimson light of the furnace, whose playing flames darted shadows
through the steady light of the lanthorns, caused us to appear very
wild. The mariners' eyes gleamed redly as their glances rove round the
place, and, had you come suddenly among us, I believe you would have
thought this band of pale, fire-touched, hairy men, with the one ebon
visage among them, rendered the vessel a vast deal more ghostly than
ever she could have shown when sailing along with me alone on board.

They were a good deal puzzled when I told them of the mines I had made
and sprung in the ice. They reckoned the notion fine, but could not
conceive how I had, single-handed, broken out the powder-barrels, got
them over the side, and fixed them.

"Why," said I, "'twas slow, heavy work, of course; but a man who labours
for his life will do marvellous things. It is like the jump of a hunted
stag."

"True for you," says the captain. "A swim of two miles spends me in
pleasurin'; but I've swum eight mile to save my life, and stranded fresh
as a new-hooked cod. What's your intentions, sir?"

"To sail the schooner home," said I, "if I can get help. She's too good
to abandon. She'll fetch money in England."

"Ay, as a show."

"Yes, and as a coalman. Rig her modernly, and carry your forecastle deck
into the head, captain, and she's a brave ship, fit for a Baltimore
eye."

He stroked down the hair upon his chin.

"Dip, captain, dip, my lads; there's enough of this to drown ye in the
hold," said I, pointing to the bowl. "Come, this is a happy meeting for
me; let it be a merry one. Captain, I drink to the _Susan Tucker_."

"Sir, your servant. Here's to your sweetheart, be she wife or maid.
Bill, jump on deck and take a look round. See to the boat."

One of the men went out.

"Captain," said I, "you are a full ship?"

"That's so."

"Bound home?"

"Right away.