To be sure, he was on the true Pacific Ocean, at a period when it is really free from storms. Still, even for that latitude, he had wonderful weather for six days; and on the seventh he fell in with a schooner, the skipper and crew of which looked over the bulwarks at him with wonder and cordiality, and, casting out a rope astern, took him in tow. The skipper had been eying him with amazement for some hours through his telescope; but he was a man that had seen a great many strange things, and it was also a point of honor with him never to allow that he was astonished, or taken by surprise, or greatly moved. "Wal, stranger," said he, "what craft is that?" "The _Helen."_ "Where d'ye hail from? not that I am curious." "From an unknown island." "Do tell. What, another! Is it anyways nigh?" "Not within seven hundred miles." "Je--rusalem! Have you sailed all that in a cockle-shell?" "Yes." "Why, what are ye? the Wandering Jew afloat, or the Ancient Mariner? or only a kinder nautilus?" "I'm a landsman." "A landsman! then so is Neptune. What is your name when you are ashore?" "Robert Penfold. The Reverend Robert Penfold." "The Reverend-- Je--rusalem!" "May I ask what is your name, sir?" "Wal, I reckon you may, stranger. I'm Joshua Fullalove from the States, at present located on the island of Juan Fernandez!" "Joshua Fullalove! That is lucky. I've got something that belongs to you." He looked about and found the harpoon, and handed it up in a mighty straightforward, simple way. Joshua stared at him incredulously at first, but afterward with amazement. He handled the harpoon, and inquired where Robert had fallen in with it. Robert told him. "You're an honest man," said Fullalove, "you air. Come aboard." He was then pleased to congratulate himself on his strange luck in having drifted across an honest man in the middle of the ocean. "I've heerd," said he, "of an old chap as groped about all his life with a lantern, and couldn't find one. Let's liquor." He had some celestial mixture or other made, including rum, mint, and snow from the Andes, and then began his interrogatories, again disclaiming curiosity at set intervals. "Whither bound, honest man?" "The coast of Chili." "What for?" "Trade." "D'ye buy or sell? Not that it is my business." "I wish to sell." "What's the merchandise?" "Knowledge, and treasure." Fullalove scratched his head. "Hain't ye got a few conundrums to swap for gold dust as well?" Robert smiled faintly. The first time this six weeks. "I have to sell the knowledge of an island with rich products; and I have to sell the contents of a Spanish treasure-ship that I found buried in the sand of that island." The Yankee's eyes glistened.