puff from a lazy whale,--all this
tended to prevent monotony, and gave life to the lovely scene.

"Is it not the most glorious and altogether astonishing state of things
you ever heard or dreamed of, father?" asked Benjy, breaking a prolonged
silence.

"Out o' sight, my boy, out o' sight," replied the Captain. "Never heard
nor saw nor dreamed of anything like it before."

"P'raps it _is_ a dream!" said Benjy, with a slightly distressed look.
"How are we ever to know that we're _not_ dreaming?"

The boy finished his question with a sharp cry and leaped up.

"Steady, boy, steady! Have a care, or you'll upset the boat," said the
Captain.

"What did you do _that_ for, father?"

"What, my boy?"

"Pinch me so hard! Surely you didn't do it on purpose?"

"Indeed I did, Ben," replied the Captain with a laugh. "You asked how
you were to know you were not dreaming. If you had been dreaming that
would have wakened you--wouldn't it?"

"I dare say it would, father," returned the boy, resuming his seat, "but
I'm convinced now. Don't do it again, please. I wish I knew what
Chingatok thinks of it. Try to ask him, father. I'm sure you've had
considerable experience in his lingo by this time."

Benjy referred here, not only to the numerous conversations which his
father had of late carried on with the giant through the interpreter,
but to the fact that, having been a whaler in years past, Captain Vane
had previously picked up a smattering of various Eskimo dialects. Up to
that day he had conversed entirely through the medium of Anders, but as
that useful man was now in Alf's boat, the Captain was left to his own
resources, and got on much better than he had expected.

Chingatok turned his eyes from the horizon on which they had been fixed,
and looked dreamily at the Captain when asked what he was thinking
about.

"I have been thinking," said he, "of home, _my_ home over there." He
lifted his huge right arm and pointed to the north. "And I have been
thinking," he continued, "that there must be another home up there." He
raised his hand and pointed to the sky.

"Why do you think so?" asked the Captain in some surprise.

"Because it is so beautiful, so wonderful, so full of light and peace,"
replied the Eskimo. "Sometimes the clouds, and the wind, and the rain,
come and cover it; but they pass away, and there it is, just the same,
always calm, and bright, and beautiful. Could such a place have been
made for