INSPECTION OF OUR CANOE. 305 



back to its former perch, and care, patience, and skill 

 finally made it a fixture. In this little contre-temps 

 I regret to say my fellow-traveller received several 

 severe contusions, as well as incurring the loss of 

 considerable cuticle from his nose, forehead, and 

 shins. 



As is frequent with summer gales, this one was 

 of short duration, and day broke so still and balmy 

 that the experiences of the previous evening appeared 

 impossibilities. 



The inspection of our canoe, however, tells us 

 that the storm of last night is not a mental delusion, 

 for its gunwale is bent and strained, while several 

 rifts in its bottom foretell that hours of labour will be 

 necessary before it can again dance safely and buoy- 

 antly upon the sparkling, laughing waters. 



Circumstances and places frequently alter our 

 ideas of subjects ; thus I account for abusing an 

 animal at one time, or praising it at another, or attri- 

 buting to a brute motives which I afterwards have had 

 reason to doubt it possessed. Politicians are blamed 

 for turning their coats. If they do so from seeing 

 the errors of their past ways, commendation should 

 be awarded to them, for the policy that promises the 

 most good at one period may not do so at an after. 



As the senator gets blamed so may I, unless 

 what is unpardonable in the whale is unworthy of 

 notice in the sprat. 



Off to the North, distant about five miles from 

 our present position, is a hill, portions of which are 



x 



