But you're young, and so cheer up. Look ahead, and
never let present misfortunes discourage you.
"England honors Scoresby to this day. And Scoresby was successful after
two voyages that ruined his owners. As to them mermaids frightening away
the whales, it's all a superstition. The natives on Queen Charlotte's
island have a superstition that there is an island down north of them,
called No Man's island--for no man, as they say, was ever seen on
it--where there is a subterranean sea peopled by these mermaids; and
that these mermaids have built them a palace, where they hold their
revels and do all sorts of strange things, even to decoying navigators
into it. That story won't do. Don't believe a word of it, Mr.
Toodleburg."
That morning about ten o'clock the lookout aloft called, "Whale, O!" The
glad announcement sent a thrill of joy over every one on board. The crew
turned out with cheerful faces, and every one looked eagerly in the
direction pointed to by the man aloft.
"Where away?" was the quick enquiry from the deck.
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