To California 
glittering flying fishes here and there, or by 
night with every star pictured in its bosom! 
But even of the land only a small portion is 
free to man, and if he, among other journeys 
on forbidden paths, ventures among the ice 
lands and hot lands, or up in the air in balloon 
bubbles, or on the ocean in ships, or down into 
it a little way in smothering diving-bells — in 
all such small adventures man is admonished 
and often punished in ways which clearly show 
him that he is in places for which, to use an 
approved phrase, he was never designed. How- 
ever, in view of the rapid advancement of our 
time, no one can tell how far our star may 
finally be subdued to man’s will. At all events 
I enjoyed this drifting locomotion to some 
extent. 
The tar-scented community of a ship is a 
study in itself —a despotism on the small 
territory of a few drifting planks pinned to- 
gether. But as our crew consisted only of four 
sailors, a mate, and the captain, there were no 
signs of despotism. We all dined at one table, 
[ 179 ] 
