If two strangers crossing the Pine Barrens in New York State,
or the equally desolate Salisbury Plain in England; if casually
encountering each other in such inhospitable wilds, these twain,
for the life of them, cannot well avoid a mutual salutation;
and stopping for a moment to interchange the news;
and, perhaps, sitting down for a while and resting in concert:
then, how much more natural that upon the illimitable Pine Barrens
and Salisbury Plains of the sea, two whaling vessels descrying
each other at the ends of the earth--off lone Fanning's Island,
or the far away King's Mills; how much more natural, I say, that under
such circumstances these ships should not only interchange hails,
but come into still closer, more friendly and sociable contact.
And especially would this seem to be a matter of course, in the case
of vessels owned in one seaport, and whose captains, officers,
and not a few of the men are personally known to each other;
and consequently, have all sorts of dear domestic things
to talk about.
For the long absent ship, the outward-bounder, perhaps,
has letters on board; at any rate, she will be sure to let her
have some papers of a date a year or two later than the last
one on her blurred and thumb-worn files.
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