It may not be necessary to dwell on the incredible ingenuity, with which terror will at any time prop a tottering argument.

The worthy Obed had gone over the whole subject, with commendable diligence, and had just arrived at the consoling conclusion, that there was nearly as much glory in discerning the hidden sources of so considerable a stream, as in adding a plant, or an insect, to the lists of the learned, when the Pawnee reached the shore for the second time.

The old man took his seat, with the utmost deliberation, in the vessel of skin (so soon as it had been duly arranged for his reception), and having carefully disposed of Hector between his legs, he beckoned to his companion to occupy the third place.
The naturalist placed a foot in the frail vessel, as an elephant will try a bridge, or a horse is often seen to make a similar experiment, before he will trust the whole of his corporeal treasure on the dreaded flat, and then withdrew, just as the old man believed he was about to seat himself.
"Venerable venator," he said, mournfully, "this is a most unscientific bark.

There is an inward monitor which bids me distrust its security!" "Anan ?" said the old man, who was pinching the ears of the hound, as a father would play with the same member in a favourite child.
"I incline not to this irregular mode of experimenting on fluids.

The vessel has neither form, nor proportions." "It is not as handsomely turned as I have seen a canoe in birchen bark, but comfort may be taken in a wigwam as well as in a palace." "It is impossible that any vessel constructed on principles so repugnant to science can be safe.