Among seamen in the Pacific such adventures not seldom occur.

Nor are they accounted great wonders.

They are but incidents, not events, in the career of the brethren of the order of South Sea rovers.

For what matters it, though hundreds of miles from land, if a good whale-boat be under foot, the Trades behind, and mild, warm seas before?
And herein lies the difference between the Atlantic and Pacific:--that once within the Tropics, the bold sailor who has a mind to quit his ship round Cape Horn, waits not for port.

He regards that ocean as one mighty harbor.
Nevertheless, the enterprise hinted at was no light one; and I resolved to weigh well the chances.