er this
was a case for the offer of a Bible.

"Is it true, sir," asked the tourist, "that you have a passion for
nicknames in America, so complete, that you confer them upon all your
celebrated men, and that you call your famous Missouri banker, Thomas
Benton, 'Old Lingot'?"

"Yes; just as we call Zachary Taylor 'Old Zach.'"

"And General Harrison, 'Old Tip;' am I right? and General Jackson, 'Old
Hickory?'"

"Because Jackson is hard as hickory wood; and because Harrison beat the
redskins at _Tippecanoe_."

"It is an odd fashion that of yours."

"It is our custom. We call Van Buren 'The Little Wizard;' Seward, who
introduced the small bank-notes, 'Little Billy;' and Douglas, the
democrat senator from Illinois, who is four feet high and very eloquent,
'The Little Giant.' You may go from Texas to the State of Maine without
hearing the name of Mr. Cass. They say the 'Great Michiganer.' Nor the
name of Clay; they say 'The miller's boy with the scar.' Clay is the son
of a miller."

"I should prefer to say 'Clay' or 'Cass,'" said the Parisian. "It's
shorter."

"Then you would be out of the fashion. We call Corwin, who is the
Secretary of the Treasury, 'The Waggoner-boy;' Daniel Webster, 'Black
Dan.' As to Winfield Scott, as his first thought after beating the
English at Chippeway, was to sit down to dine, we call him 'Quick--a
basin of soup.'"

The small white mist perceived in the distance had become larger. It
filled now a segment of fifteen degrees above the horizon. It was like a
cloud loitering along the water for want of wind to stir it. The breeze
had almost entirely died away. The sea was glassy. Although it was not
yet noon, the sun was becoming pale. It lighted but seemed to give no
warmth.

"I fancy," said the tourist, "that we shall have a change of weather."

"Probably rain," said the Parisian.

"Or fog," said the American.

"In Italy," remarked the tourist, "Molfetta is the place where there
falls the least rain; and Tolmezzo, where there falls the most."

At noon, according to the usage of the Channel Islands, the bell sounded
for dinner. Those dined who desired. Some passengers had brought with
them provisions, and were eating merrily on the after-deck. Clubin did
not eat.

While this eating was going on, the conversations continued.

The Guernsey man, having probably a scent for Bibles, approached the
American. The latter said to him:

"You know this sea?"

"Very well; I belong to thi