"If you will please allow me to———"
"No, I will not allow your skill, and bravery, and hardihood to be underrated even by you. The captain who has chosen you for his chief officer knows his man, I'll be bound."
"But that's not the question," said Shandon, impatiently.
"Well, and what is the question, then? Don't keep me in suspense, pray."
"You won't let me speak. Please to tell me, Doctor, how you came to join in the expedition of the Forward."
"Well, it was through a letter which I have here from the brave captain, a very laconic one, though it says all that is necessary."
And drawing the said letter out of his pocket, he handed it to Shandon, who read as follows:—
Inverness, Jan. 22nd, 1860.
"If Dr. Clawbonny is willing to embark in the brig Forward, let him present himself to the chief officer, Richard Shandon, who has received orders concerning him."
"The Captain of the Forward, K. Z.
"To Dr. Clawbonny, Liverpool."
"The letter came this morning, and here I am ready to go on board."
"But, at any rate," said Shandon, "you know where we are going, I suppose?"
"Not I; but what does it matter to me, so long as I go somewhere? People call me a learned man, but they are much mistaken. I know nothing, and if I happen to have published some few books which sell pretty well, they are not worth anything, and it is very good of the people to buy them. I know nothing, I tell you, except that I am an ignoramus. Now I have a chance of completing, or rather recommencing, my studies in medicine, in surgery, in history, in geography, in botany, in mineralogy, in conchology, in geodesy, in chemistry, in natural philosophy, in mechanics, in hydrography. Well, I accept the offer, and don't need much pressing, I assure you."
"Then you know nothing about the destination of the Forward?" said Richard, in a disappointed tone.
"I know this much, Mr. Shandon, that she is going where there will be much to learn and discover, and much
