The judgment day was the topic of discourse and persons of ungodly lives and conversation were led to think seriously of the error of their ways.
I read the pamphlet through, from title page to "finis," calculations, figures, and all; and no reader ever had a more attentive listener.
Captain Thompson took the book in his hand after I had got through, and gazed upon it attentively.
"Well," said he, "this beats cock fighting! The man keeps a good log; works out his case like a sailing master; and proves it by alphabetic signs and logarithms, as clear as a problem in plain sailing.

This is a great book; a tremendous book! I wish I had two hundred copies to distribute among the poor, ignorant heathens at Newbern and Portsmouth.
Won't it make the folks stare like bewildered porpoises! Are you tired of reading, Hawser ?" "No, sir.

I will read as long as you wish." "Well, if that's the case, I'll bring up the Bible from the cabin, and you may wind up with one or two of the chapters in Revelation, which are referred to in the pamphlet." The Bible was brought up, and I read to his great gratification until about six o'clock, when the supper hour put a stop to our literary and biblical pursuits.

But the following day, the day after, every day, I had to read that doomsday pamphlet whenever it was my turn to take the helm, and frequently a chapter in the Bible besides.
One morning, as we were slowly moving along with a light breeze, on soundings between Cape Henry and Cape Hatteras, a large loggerhead turtle was seen a short distance to windward, motionless, and apparently asleep on the water.

This caused quite a sensation; every man was on deck in a moment.