d Daggett, in a deprecating sort of
way, as if he still had latent hopes of persuading his brother-master to
remain a little longer "Another week would almost fill us up."

"Not another day," was the answer. "I have stayed too long already, and
shall be off in the morning. If you will take my advice. Captain Daggett,
you will do the same thing. Winter comes in this latitude very much as
spring appears in our own; or with a hop, skip, and a jump. I have no
fancy to be groping about among the ice, after the nights get to be longer
than the days!"

"All true enough, Gar'ner; all quite true--but it has such a look to take
a craft home, and she not full!"

"You have a great abundance of provisions; stop and whale awhile on the
False Banks, as you go north. I would much rather stick by you there a
whole month, than remain here another day."

"You make me narvous, talking of the group in this way! I'm sartain that
this bay must remain clear of ice several weeks longer."

"Perhaps it may; it is more likely to be so than to freeze up. But this
will not lengthen the days and carry us safe through the fields and bergs
that we know are drifting about out here to the northward. There's a
hundred leagues of ocean thereaway, Daggett, that I care for more just
now, than for all the seal that are left on these islands. But, talking is
useless; I go to-morrow; if you are wise, you will sail in company."

This settled the matter. Daggett well knew it would be useless to remain
without the aid of Roswell's counsel, and that of his crew's hands; for
Macy was not to be trusted any more as the leader of a gang of sealers.
The man had got to be provoked and reckless, and had called down upon
himself latterly more than one rebuke. It was necessary, therefore, that
one of the Sea Lions should accompany the other. The necessary orders were
issued accordingly, and "hey for home!" were the words that now cheerfully
passed from mouth to mouth. That pleasant idea of "home," in which is
concentrated all that is blessed in this life, the pale of the Christian
duties and charities excepted, brings to each mind its particular forms of
happiness and good. The weather-beaten seaman, the foot-worn soldier, the
weary traveller, the adventurer in whatever lands interest or pleasure
may lead, equally feels a throb at his heart as he hears the welcome
sounds of "hey for home." Never were craft prepared for sea with greater
rapidity than was the case now wi