The Funny Philosophers, or Wags and Sweethearts. A NovelYellott, George
General
The Funny Philosophers, or Wags and Sweethearts. A Novel
Yellott, George
Fiction
A few days subsequent to these events, they came in sight of Tierra del
Fuego; and as the ship ran down within a league of the shore, there was
a suggestion that the officers had determined to leave the slayer of the
albatross on this desolate coast; being afraid to venture round the Horn
with such a Jonah on board. The Professor told Pate to pay no attention
to these remarks, as the captain had a cousin who had emigrated to this
part of the world and opened a hotel, and he was going to take the
passengers on shore and give a "general treat." But the ship stood away
to the south, and, followed by clouds of Cape pigeons and albatrosses,
went rolling around the Horn, and after a rough controversy with old
ocean, which lasted for several weeks, eventually came in sight of the
Island of Juan Fernandez.
Several of the passengers expressed an opinion that the captain would
now put Pate on shore, and said that he would have to live here in
solitude and clad in goats' skins like Alexander Selkirk. But the vessel
sailed on, and the peaks of the famous island were soon hid behind the
horizon; and this was their last sight of _terra firma_ until they
beheld the tops of the Andes, and soon afterwards entered the harbor of
Callao.
"There was a scene of revelry by night" in the cabin, like that which
had preceded their landing on Brazilian soil. The Professor, with Toney
and Tom, remained on deck until the sounds of conviviality had ceased,
and then proceeded to "turn in."
"What is this?" said Tom Seddon, coming in contact with a huge head
hanging over the side of a hammock.
"It is a remarkable case of suspended animation," said the Professor.
"Hercules has again become wonderfully elevated," said Toney.
"And has turned Wiggins out of his hammock," said Tom.
"Old Grizzly and M. T. Pate seem to prefer the floor," said Toney,
pointing to the two individuals named, who were lying supinely on their
backs by the side of a sea-chest under the hammock.
"Hercules seems to be hovering over them like a benignant spirit with
the most benevolent intentions," said the Professor; and he and his two
friends passed on, and, stowing themselves away in their bunks, were
awaiting the approach of "tired nature's sweet restorer," when a hideous
howl, like the outcry of a wounded dragon, rang through the cabin. A
score of startled passengers leaped hurriedly up, and rushing forward
beheld the catastrophe. Hercules had pitched headforemost from his
hammock, and precipitating himself first on the sea-chest, had rolled
over, and covered with his huge body the prostrated forms of Old Grizzly
and M. T. Pate.
Unable to account for his sudden descent, and wholly confounded by his
fall, he was giving utterance to his emotions in a succession of
diabolical howls.
Old Grizzly slowly arose, and assuming a sitting posture, growled out
his decided disapprobation of such proceedings, while M. T. Pate was
writhing and wriggling under his heavy burden, and uttering piteous
groans.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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