The good old speculator wanted to comfort him, but he hardly knew how to go about it.

He made many attempts, but they were lame; they lacked spirit; the words were encouraging; but they were only words--he could not get any heart into them.

He could not always warm up, now, with the old Hawkeye fervor.

By and by his lips trembled and his voice got unsteady.

He said: "Don't give up the ship, my boy--don't do it.