Here he sees old Charon the pilot, who started his career as the Styx ferryman with a boat hardly large enough to hold two college professors, but who now runs a large double-decked steamer fitted out with modern improvements and accommodating eight hundred souls. [Illustration] [Illustration: THIS IS CAPTAIN CHARON.] _CANTO XII._ Mr. Hunt sees Charon’s boat take on a load of passengers. He watches it pull out from the pier and cross the river. An orchestra, consisting of a bass horn and an accordion, supplies the torture on the run from shore to shore. Wearing nothing but a mackintosh and gaiters the Captain stands on the roof of the pilot house grimly scanning the black waves. [Illustration] [Illustration: CROSSING THE RIVER STYX.] _CANTO XIII._ Coming into the second district Mr. Hunt is debating which way he shall proceed, when he hears a scuffling on the heated asphalt road behind him. He turns and sees passing a drove of human-footed sheep, led by a monkey, whose contortions they are compelled to imitate. Mr. Hunt consults his guide book and learns that these are the people who did things because others did them, never taking the trouble to think for themselves. [Illustration] [Illustration: THE SHEEP.] _CANTO XIV._ The explorer has not journeyed far in the first department of the second district when he beholds Minos, the Infernal Judge. Up the terraced enclosure, arranged directly in front of the Judge, in rows of hundreds and extending as far as the eye can reach, Mr. Hunt sees the sinners awaiting their turn to be sentenced. When the ill-fated soul stands before this Supreme Court he confesses everything. An Irish policeman leads a trembling sinner to trial. “Well, what have you to say?” asks the Judge in a loud voice. “Your Honor, I confess that I have always been somewhat obstinate.” “Yes; I know you,” answers the Judge, “you are one of these pig-headed fellows--you never admit it even if you know you are wrong. Officer, remove him to the stubborn district.” [Illustration] [Illustration: WHERE JUDGE MINOS ADMINISTERS JUSTICE.] _CANTO XV._ Taking his way down the rugged slope Mr. Hunt comes to the hot region where people who took no pride in their work are punished. Here he finds the tailors who made ill-fitting clothes steaming and fuming, attired in their own misfits. In different sections of the same department he sees engravers, carpenters, artists and various other offenders of the same class. This discovery may serve as a warning to all those on earth who, thinking rather of the money they will gain by it than of its quality, hurry and slight their work. [Illustration] [Illustration: TAILORS WHO WOULDN’T LEARN THEIR TRADE.] _CANTO XVI._ Next, by permission, he goes along the edge of a void, and, turning to the right, comes to the district where street-corner mashers are punished. “Under huge flat rocks they feebly flounder, while their despondent murmurs fill the haunted air.”