{"id":"01KG8AKTS8B98CCMMDRGEERD6G","cid":"bafkreiaw4igsw57ik6uyhqv3nayggar3puh4we3bap47suobpqdwm62tue","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":8376,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.153Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":8305,"text":"CHAPTER LX.\r\nWHAT THEY THOUGHT OF US IN MARTAIR\r\n\r\n\r\nSeveral quiet days now passed away, during which we just worked\r\nsufficiently to sharpen our appetites; the planters leniently exempting\r\nus from any severe toil.\r\n\r\nTheir desire to retain us became more and more evident; which was not\r\nto be wondered at; for, beside esteeming us from the beginning a couple\r\nof civil, good-natured fellows, who would soon become quite at-home\r\nwith them, they were not slow in perceiving that we were far different\r\nfrom the common run of rovers; and that our society was both\r\nentertaining and instructive to a couple of solitary, illiterate men\r\nlike themselves.\r\n\r\nIn a literary point of view, indeed, they soon regarded us with\r\nemotions of envy and wonder; and the doctor was considered nothing\r\nshort of a prodigy. The Cockney found out that he (the doctor) could\r\nread a book upside down, without even so much as spelling the big words\r\nbeforehand; and the Yankee, in the twinkling of an eye, received from\r\nhim the sum total of several arithmetical items, stated aloud, with the\r\nview of testing the extent of his mathematical lore.\r\n\r\nThen, frequently, in discoursing upon men and things, my long comrade\r\nemployed such imposing phrases that, upon one occasion, they actually\r\nremained uncovered while he talked.\r\n\r\nIn short, their favourable opinion of Long Ghost in particular rose\r\nhigher and higher every day; and they began to indulge in all manner of\r\ndreams concerning the advantages to be derived from employing so\r\nlearned a labourer. Among other projects revealed was that of building\r\na small craft of some forty tons for the purpose of trading among the\r\nneighbouring islands. With a native crew, we would then take turns\r\ncruising over the tranquil Pacific; touching here and there, as caprice\r\nsuggested, and collecting romantic articles of commerce;—beach-de-mer,\r\nthe pearl-oyster, arrow-root, ambergris, sandal-wood, cocoa-nut oil,\r\nand edible birdnests.\r\n\r\nThis South Sea yachting was delightful to think of; and straightway,\r\nthe doctor announced his willingness to navigate the future schooner\r\nclear of all shoals and reefs whatsoever. His impudence was audacious.\r\nHe enlarged upon the science of navigation; treated us to a\r\ndissertation on Mercator’s Sailing and the Azimuth compass; and went\r\ninto an inexplicable explanation of the Lord only knows what plan of\r\nhis for infallibly settling the longitude.\r\n\r\nWhenever my comrade thus gave the reins to his fine fancy, it was a\r\ntreat to listen, and therefore I never interfered; but, with the\r\nplanters, sat in mute admiration before him. This apparent\r\nself-abasement on my part must have been considered as truly indicative\r\nof our respective merits; for, to my no small concern, I quickly\r\nperceived that, in the estimate formed of us, Long Ghost began to be\r\nrated far above myself. For aught I knew, indeed, he might have\r\nprivately thrown out a hint concerning the difference in our respective\r\nstations aboard the Julia; or else the planters must have considered\r\nhim some illustrious individual, for certain inscrutable reasons, going\r\nincog. With this idea of him, his undisguised disinclination for work\r\nbecame venial; and entertaining such views of extending their business,\r\nthey counted more upon his ultimate value to them as a man of science\r\nthan as a mere ditcher.\r\n\r\nNor did the humorous doctor forbear to foster an opinion every way so\r\nadvantageous to himself; at times, for the sake of the joke, assuming\r\nairs of superiority over myself, which, though laughable enough, were\r\nsometimes annoying.\r\n\r\nTo tell the plain truth, things at last came to such a pass that I told\r\nhim, up and down, that I had no notion to put up with his pretensions;\r\nif he were going to play the gentleman, I was going to follow suit; and\r\nthen there would quickly be an explosion.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJM11K2YB20W5M6EFZBR2","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKTS83D3ED8G5WSMWNAC0","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:17.192Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:30.902Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}