But it was a foot too narrow, and the other bench in
the room was about four inches higher than the planed one--
so there was no yoking them. I then placed the first bench
lengthwise along the only clear space against the wall,
leaving a little interval between, for my back to settle down in.
But I soon found that there came such a draught of cold air
over me from under the sill of the window, that this plan would
never do at all, especially as another current from the rickety
door met the one from the window, and both together formed
a series of small whirlwinds in the immediate vicinity of the spot
where I had thought to spend the night.
The devil fetch that harpooneer, thought I, but stop,
couldn't I steal a march on him--bolt his door inside, and jump
into his bed, not to be wakened by the most violent knockings?
It seemed no bad idea but upon second thoughts I dismissed it.
For who could tell but what the next morning, so soon as I popped
out of the room, the harpooneer might be standing in the entry,
all ready to knock me down!
Still looking around me again, and seeing no possible chance
of spending a sufferable night unless in some other person's bed,
I began to think that after all I might be cherishing
unwarrantable prejudices against this unknown harpooneer.
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