Well, Zach'll be an angel pretty soon if he keeps on cruisin' with that old hooker as she is.

'Bijah Perry, he's mate and the only good seaman aboard, tells me that most of the riggin's rotten and the main topmast ain't sound, by a good deal.

The old man's put off havin' her overhauled for two reasons, one that repairs cost money, and t'other that puttin' off is the main sheet of his gospel.

When there's no rain the roof don't leak and long's it don't blow too hard 'most any kind of gear'll hold.

That's philosophy--cabbage philosophy." Ellery decided that he should like Captain Zeb, although it was evident that the old whaler had decided opinions of his own which he did not hesitate to express.