The sky
was cloudless, and I could hear the surf break. For
the place was Midway Island; the point of view the very
spot at which I had landed with the captain for the
first time, and from which I had re-embarked the day
before we sailed. I had already been gazing for some
seconds before my attention was arrested by a blur on
the sea-line, and, stooping to look, I recognised the
smoke of a steamer.
"Yes," said I, turning toward Stennis, "it has merit.
What is it?"
"A fancy piece," he returned. "That's what pleased me.
So few of the fellows in our time had the imagination
of a garden-snail."
"Madden, you say his name is?" I pursued.
"Madden," he repeated.
Has he travelled much?" I inquired.
"I haven't an idea. He is one of the least
autobiographical of men. He sits, and smokes, and
giggles, and sometimes he makes small jests; but his
contributions to the art of pleasing are generally
confined to looking like a gentleman and being one.
No," added Stennis, "he'll never suit you, Dodd; you
like more head on your liquor.
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