I expected a storm of criticism on our return, but found calm. The boat was hoisted in silently, and I hurried below, to lie down and enjoy the very peculiar entertainment which vigorous rowing was sure to afford me. Released after a half-hour's toasting on the gridiron, I went on deck and found the Parson surrounded by a cloud of censure. The words "boyish foolhardiness," catching my ear, flushed me with some anger,--to which emotion I am not, perhaps, of all men least liable. So I stumped a little stiffly to the group, and said,-- "I don't feel myself altogether a boy, and foolhardiness is not my forte." "Well, success is wisdom," said the Colonel, placably. "You have succeeded, and now have criticism at a disadvantage, I own." Another, however,--not a braver man on board,--stood to his guns. "Experienced men say that it is dangerous; I hear to them till I have experience myself." "Right, if so it stands in your mind. You judge thus: you follow your judgment. I judge partly so, and partly otherwise, and I follow my judgment. Mere experience is but a purblind wisdom, after all. When I do not at all see my own way, I follow that, still aware of its imperfections; where eyes are of service, I use them, learning from experience caution, not submission. The real danger in this case was that of being dashed against the berg; with coolness and some skill" (was there a little emphasis on this word _skill_?) "that danger could be disarmed. For any other danger I was ready, but did not fear it. 'Boyish?' The boyish thing, I take it, is always to be a pendant upon other people's alarms. I prefer rather to be kite than its tail only." "Well, each of us _does_ follow his own judgment," replied Candor; "you act as you think; I think you are wrong. If it were shooting a Polar bear now,--there's pleasure in that, and it were worth the while to run some risk." We had tried for a bear together. I seized my advantage. "It is a pleasure to you to shoot a bear. So to me also. But I would rather get into intimacy with an iceberg than freight the ship with bears." He smiled an end to the colloquy. As I went below, Captain Handy, the Arctic whaler, met me with,-- "I would as lief as not spend a week on that berg! I have made fast to such, and lain for days. All depends on the character of the berg. If it's rotting, look out! If it's sound as that one, you may go to sleep on it." I hastened up to proclaim my new ally. "You heed experience; hear Captain Handy." And I launched his bolt at the head of Censure, and saw it duck, if no more.