at would a world be without trade? I am of that philosopher's
opinion who says human nature was invented for the purposes of trade.
Magnet, I am astonished that you should think this water even looks like
sea-water! Now, I daresay that there isn't such a thing as a whale in
all your lake, Master Pathfinder?"

"I never heard of one, I will confess; but I am no judge of animals
that live in the water, unless it be the fishes of the rivers and the
brooks."

"Nor a grampus, nor a porpoise even? not so much as a poor devil of a
shark?"

"I will not take it on myself to say there is either. My gifts are not
in that way, I tell you, Master Cap."

"Nor herring, nor albatross, nor flying-fish?" continued Cap, who kept
his eye fastened on the guide, in order to see how far he might venture.
"No such thing as a fish that can fly, I daresay?"

"A fish that can fly! Master Cap, Master Cap, do not think, because we
are mere borderers, that we have no idees of natur', and what she has
been pleased to do. I know there are squirrels that can fly--"

"A squirrel fly!--The devil, Master Pathfinder! Do you suppose that you
have got a boy on his first v'y'ge up here among you?"

"I know nothing of your v'y'ges, Master Cap, though I suppose them to
have been many; for as for what belongs to natur' in the woods, what I
have seen I may tell, and not fear the face of man."

"And do you wish me to understand that you have seen a squirrel fly?"

"If you wish to understand the power of God, Master Cap, you will do
well to believe that, and many other things of a like natur', for you
may be quite sartain it is true."

"And yet, Pathfinder," said Mabel, looking so prettily and sweetly even
while she played with the guide's infirmity, that he forgave her in his
heart, "you, who speak so reverently of the power of the Deity, appear
to doubt that a fish can fly."

"I have not said it, I have not said it; and if Master Cap is ready to
testify to the fact, unlikely as it seems, I am willing to try to think
it true. I think it every man's duty to believe in the power of God,
however difficult it may be."

"And why isn't my fish as likely to have wings as your squirrel?"
demanded Cap, with more logic than was his wont. "That fishes do and can
fly is as true as it is reasonable."

"Nay, that is the only difficulty in believing the story," rejoined the
guide. "It seems unreasonable to give an animal that lives in the water
wings, which seemin