"The migrations of fishes are even less understood than those of the
birds. Yet both (being annual) will teach you, if you consider them,
to think little of this parting. God knows, lad, how sorely I spare
you.
"Do justice, observe mercy, and walk humbly before thy God. This if
they should happen to make you king, as your father promises.
"They have an animal very like a sheep, but wilder and fiercer.
If you have the luck to shoot one, I shall be glad of his skin.
"'Twill be a job here, making two ends meet. But as our Lord said,
Sufficient for the day is its evil. I have put a bottle of tar-water
in your berth.
"I have often wished to set eyes on the Mediterranean Sea.
A sea without tides must be but half a sea--speaking with all respect
to the Almighty, who made it.
"You will pick up the wind in the lower reach.
"There was a trick or two of fence I taught you aforetime.
I had meant to remind you of 'em. But enough, lad. Shake hands.
. . . The Lord have you in His keeping!"
Good man! For a long while after we had thrust off from the quay,
the two seamen in the cock-boat towing us, he stood there and waved
farewells; but turned before we reached the river bend, and went his
way up through the woods--since in Cornwall it is held unlucky to
watch departing friends clean out of sight.
Pages:
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201