THE WHITE WHALE 47 
I told him yes; whereat I thought he looked pleased, perhaps a little 
complimented. 
We then turned over the book together, and I endeavoured to ex- 
plain to him the purpose of the printing, and the meaning of the few 
pictures that were in it. Thus I soon engaged his interest ; and from 
that we went to jabbering the best we could about the various outer 
sights to be seen in this famous town. Soon I proposed a social smoke ; 
and, producing his pouch and tomahawk, he quietly offered me a puff. 
And there we sat exchanging puffs from that wild pipe of his, and keep- 
ing it regularly passing between us. 
If there yet lurked any ice of indifference towards me in the Pagan’s 
breast, this pleasant, genial smoke we had, soon thawed it out, and left 
us cronies. He seemed to take to me quite as naturally and unbiddenly 
as I to him; and when our smoke was over, he pressed his forehead 
against mine, clasped me round the waist, and said that henceforth we 
were married; meaning, in his country’s phrase, that we were bosom 
friends ; he would gladly die for me, if need should be. In a country- 
man, this sudden flame of friendship would have seemed far too pre- 
mature, a thing to be much distrusted ; but in this simple savage those 
old rules would not apply. 
After supper, and another social chat and smoke, we went to our room 
together. He made me a present of his embalmed head; took out his 
enormous tobacco wallet, and groping under the tobacco, drew out some 
thirty dollars in silver ; then spreading them on the table, and mechani- 
cally dividing them into two equal portions, pushed one of them towards 
me, and said it was mine. I was going to remonstrate; but he si- 
lenced me by pouring them into my trousers’ pockets. I let them stay. 
He then went about his evening prayers, took out his idol, and removed 
the paper fireboard. By certain signs and symptoms, I thought he 
seemed anxious for me to join him; but well knowing what was to 
follow, I deliberated a moment whether, in case he invited me, I would 
comply or otherwise. 
I was a good Christian ; bom and bred in the bosom of the infallible 
Presbyterian Church. How then could I unite with this wild idolater 
in worshipping his piece of wood ? But what is worship ? thought I. 
But what is worship ? — to do the will of God — that is worship. And 
what is the will of God? — to do to my fellowman what I would have 
