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Chapter 4. Ned Land

           Mynationalitydrewhimtome,nodoubt.Itwasanopportunityforhimtotalk,andformetohear,thatoldlanguageofRabelais,whichisstillinuseinsomeCanadianprovinces.Theharpooner’sfamilywasoriginallyfromQuebec,andwasalreadyatribeofhardyfishermenwhenthistownbelongedtoFrance.

           Littlebylittle,NedLandacquiredatasteforchatting,andIlovedtoheartherecitalofhisadventuresinthepolarseas.Herelatedhisfishing,andhiscombats,withnaturalpoetryofexpression;hisrecitaltooktheformofanepicpoem,andIseemedtobelisteningtoaCanadianHomersingingtheIliadoftheregionsoftheNorth.

           IamportrayingthishardycompanionasIreallyknewhim.Weareoldfriendsnow,unitedinthatunchangeablefriendshipwhichisbornandcementedamidstextremedangers.Ah,braveNed!Iasknomorethantoliveahundredyearslonger,thatImayhavemoretimetodwellthelongeronyourmemory.

           Now,whatwasNedLand’sopinionuponthequestionofthemarinemonster?Imustadmitthathedidnotbelieveintheunicorn,andwastheonlyoneonboardwhodidnotsharethatuniversalconviction.Heevenavoidedthesubject,whichIonedaythoughtitmydutytopressuponhim.Onemagnificentevening,the30thJuly(thatistosay,threeweeksafterourdeparture),thefrigatewasabreastofCapeBlanc,thirtymilestoleewardofthecoastofPatagonia.WehadcrossedthetropicofCapricorn,andtheStraitsofMagellanopenedlessthansevenhundredmilestothesouth.BeforeeightdayswereovertheAbrahamLincolnwouldbeploughingthewatersofthePacific.

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