watch; but among these Frenchmen it
is pretty much as if their idees had been caged, and the door being
suddenly opened, they fly out in a flock, just for the pleasure of
saying they are at liberty."

I now perceived that my companion was a reflecting being, his
ratiocination being connected by regular links, and that he did not
boost his philosophy on the leaping-staff of impulse, like most of those
who were sputtering, and arguing, and wrangling, with untiring lungs,
in all corners of the guinguette. I frankly proposed, therefore, that we
should quit the place and walk into the road, where our discourse would
be less disturbed, and consequently more satisfactory. The proposal was
well received, and we left the brawlers, walking by the outer boulevards
towards my hotel in the Rue de Rivoli, by the way of the Champs Elysees.

CHAPTER VII. TOUCHING AN AMPHIBIOUS ANIMAL, A SPECIAL INTRODUCTION, AND
ITS CONSEQUENCES.

I soon took an interest in my new acquaintance. He was communicative,
shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was
always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least
one portion of his fellow-creatures. The conversation, under such
circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more
interesting by the stranger's beginning to touch on his private
interests. He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by
one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in
his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal,
more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself
live by frequenting the mighty deep.

"I am very happy," I said, "to have met with a stranger who can give me
information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as
yet had but little communion. In order that we may improve the occasion
to the utmost, I propose that we introduce ourselves to each other at
once, and swear an eternal friendship, or, at least, until we may find
it convenient to dispense with the obligation."

"For my part, I am one who likes the friendship of a dog better than his
enmity," returned my companion, with a singleness of purpose that left
him no disposition to waste his breath in idle compliments. "I accept
the offer, therefore, with all my heart; and this the more readily
because you are the only one I have met for a week who can ask me how I
do without saying, 'Come on, co