"He couldn't prove the authorship, and he couldn't get the copyright." "Oh, of course not; but he would gain notoriety, and that would give him a great sale for his next effort." The doctor smiled.

"See here, Melick," said he, "you've a very vivid imagination, my dear fellow; but come, let us discuss this for a little while in a common-sense way.

Now how long should you suppose that this manuscript has been afloat ?" "Oh, a few months or so," said Melick.
"A few months!" said the doctor.

"A few years you mean.

Why, man, there are successive layers of barnacles on that copper cylinder which show a submersion of at least three years, perhaps more." "By Jove! yes," remarked Featherstone.