After a considerable pause in the conversation Walkirk inquired if I had decided where I would go. "No," I answered, "that is your affair. My desire is to get away from every place where there is any chance of seeing a woman. I wish to obliterate from my mind all idea of the female human being. In fact, I think I should like to take lodgings near a monastery, and have the monks come and write for me,--a different one every day." Walkirk smiled. "Since you wish me to select your retreat," he said, "I am bound to have an opinion regarding it. I might advise a visit to the Trappists of Kentucky, or to some remote fishing and hunting region; but it strikes me that a background made up of exclusive association with men would be very apt to bring out in strong relief any particular female image which you might have in your mind. I should say that the best way of getting rid of such an image would be to merge it in a lot of other female images." "Away with the idea!" I cried. "Walkirk, I will neither merge nor relieve. I will go with you to some place where we shall see neither men nor women; where we can hunt, fish, sail, sleep, read, smoke, and banish the world. I don't wish you to take a servant. We can do without service, and if necessary I can cook. I put the whole matter in your hands, Walkirk, and when you have decided on our destination let me know." The next afternoon Walkirk found me at my club in the city, and informed me that he had selected a place which he thought would suit my purposes. "No people?" I asked. "None but ourselves," replied he. "Very good," said I. "When can we start?" "I shall be ready to-morrow afternoon," he answered, "and I will call for you at your house." XXIII. RACKET ISLAND. We traveled all night, and early in the morning alighted at a small station, on the shore of a broad bay. Here we found moored a cat-rigged sailboat, of which Walkirk took possession, and we stowed therein the valises, guns, and fishing tackle which we had brought with us. I examined the craft with considerable interest. It was about twenty feet long, had a small cabin divided into two compartments, and appeared to be well stocked with provisions and other necessaries. "Is it to be a long cruise?" I said to Walkirk; "and do you know how to sail a boat?" "With this wind," he answered, "we should reach our destination in a couple of hours, and I consider myself a very fair skipper." "Up sail, then," I cried, "and I am not in the least hurry to know where I am going."