ancy that Daggett had also some clue to the
very objects he was after himself. Singular as it may seem at first,
Deacon Pratt's interests were favourably affected by this unexpected
meeting with the Sea Lion of Holmes' Hole. From the first, Roswell
Gardiner had been indisposed to give full credit to the statements of the
deceased mariner, ascribing no small part of his account to artifice,
stimulated by a desire to render himself important. But, now that he found
one of this man's family embarked in an enterprise similar to his own, his
views of its expediency were sensibly changed. Perfectly familiar with the
wary economy with which every interest was regulated in that part of the
world, he did not believe a company of Martha's Vineyard men would risk
their money in an enterprise that they had not good reasons for believing
would succeed. Although it exceeded his means to appreciate fully the
information possessed by the Vineyard folk, and covetousness did not
quicken his faculties on this subject, as they had quickened those of the
deacon, he could see enough to satisfy his mind that either the
sealing-islands, or the booty of the pirates, or both, had a reality, in
the judgments of others, which had induced them also to risk their money
in turning their knowledge to account. The effect of this conviction was
very natural. It induced Roswell to regard the charts, and his
instructions, and all connected with his voyage, as much more serious
matters than he had originally been inclined to do. Until now, he had
thought it well enough to let the deacon have his fancies, relying on his
own ability to obtain a cargo for the schooner, by visiting sealing
stations where he had been before; but, now, he determined to steer at
once for Daggett's Islands, as he and his owner named the land revealed to
them, and ascertain what could be done there. He thought it probable the
other Sea Lion might wish to keep him company; but the distance was so
great, that a hundred occasions must occur when it would be in his power
to shake off such a consort, should he deem it necessary.

For several hours the two schooners stood on in company, keeping just
without hailing distance apart, and sailing so nearly alike as to render
it hard to say which craft had the best of it. There was nothing
remarkable in the fact that two vessels, built for the same trade, should
have a close general resemblance to each other; but it was not common to
find them