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it on the prophets of Baal； and like enough he was justifiable；
considering the odds that was against him。 No； all I say is； 'twa'n't
any miracle； and that I'll show you so's't you can see it yourself。
〃Well； times had been getting rougher and rougher for prophetsthat is；
prophets of Isaac's denomination。 There was four hundred and fifty
prophets of Baal in the community； and only one Presbyterian； that is；
if Isaac was a Presbyterian； which I reckon he was； but it don't say。
Naturally； the prophets of Baal took all the trade。 Isaac was pretty
low…spirited； I reckon； but he was a good deal of a man； and no doubt he
went a…prophesying around； letting on to be doing a land…office business；
but 'twa'n't any use； he couldn't run any opposition to amount to
anything。 By and by things got desperate with him； he sets his head to
work and thinks it all out； and then what does he do？ Why； he begins to
throw out hints that the other parties are this and that and t'other…
nothing very definite； maybe； but just kind of undermining their
reputation in a quiet way。 This made talk； of course； and finally got to
the king。 The king asked Isaac what he meant by his talk。 Says Isaac；
'Oh； nothing particular； only； can they pray…down fire from heaven on an
altar？ It ain't much； maybe； your majesty； only can they do it？ That's
the idea。' So the king was a good deal disturbed； and he went to the
prophets of Baal； and they said； pretty airy； that if he had an altar
ready； they were ready； and they intimated he better get it insured； too。
〃So next morning all the children of Israel and their parents and the
other people gathered themselves together。 Well； here was that great
crowd of prophets of Baal packed together on one side； and Isaac walking
up and down all alone on the other； putting up his job。 When time was
called； Isaac let on to be comfortable and indifferent； told the other
team to take the first innings。 So they went at it； the whole four
hundred and fifty； praying around the altar； very hopeful； and doing
their level best。 They prayed an hourtwo hoursthree hoursand so
on； plumb till noon。 It wa'n't any use； they hadn't took a trick。 Of
course they felt kind of ashamed before all those people； and well they
might。 Now； what would a magnanimous man do？ Keep still； wouldn't he？
Of course。 What did Isaac do？ He graveled the prophets of Baal every
way he could think of。 Says he； 'You don't speak up loud enough； your
god's asleep； like enough； or maybe he's taking a walk； you want to
holler； you know'or words to that effect； I don't recollect the exact
language。 Mind； I don't apologize for Isaac； he had his faults。
〃Well； the prophets of Baal prayed along the best they knew how all the
afternoon； and never raised； a spark。 At last； about sundown； they were
all tuckered out； and they owned up and quit。
〃What does Isaac do now？ He steps up and says to some friends of his
there； 'Pour four barrels of water on the altar！' Everybody was
astonished； for the other side had prayed at it dry； you know； and got
whitewashed。 They poured it on。 Says he； 'Heave on four more barrels。'
Then he says； 'Heave on four more。' Twelve barrels； you see； altogether。
The water ran all over the altar； and all down the sides； and filled up a
trench around it that would hold a couple of hogsheads…'measures；' it
says； I reckon it means about a hogshead。 Some of the people were going
to put on their things and go； for they allowed he was crazy。 They
didn't know Isaac。 Isaac knelt down and began to pray； he strung along；
and strung along； about the heathen in distant lands； and about the
sister churches； and about the state and the country at large； and about
those that's in authority in the government； and all the usual program；
you know； till everybody had got tired and gone to thinking about
something else； and then； all of a sudden； when nobody was noticing； he
outs with a match and rakes it on the under side of his leg； and pff！ up
the whole thing blazes like a house afire！ Twelve barrels of water？
Petroleum； sir； PETROLEUM！ that's what it was！〃
〃Petroleum； captain？〃
〃Yes； sir； the country was full of it。 Isaac knew all about that。
You read the Bible。 Don't you worry about the tough places。 They ain't
tough when you come to think them out and throw light on them。 There
ain't a thing in the Bible but what is true； all you want is to go
prayerfully to work and cipher out how 'twas done。〃
At eight o'clock on the third morning out from New York； land was
sighted。 Away across the sunny waves one saw a faint dark stripe
stretched along under the horizon…or pretended to see it； for the credit
of his eyesight。 Even the Reverend said he saw it； a thing which was
manifestly not so。 But I never have seen any one who was morally strong
enough to confess that he could not see land when others claimed that
they could。
By and by the Bermuda Islands were easily visible。 The principal one lay
upon the water in the distance； a long； dull…colored body； scalloped with
slight hills and valleys。 We could not go straight at it； but had to
travel all the way around it； sixteen miles from shore； because it is
fenced with an invisible coral reef。 At last we sighted buoys； bobbing
here and there； and then we glided into a narrow channel among them；
〃raised the reef；〃 and came upon shoaling blue water that soon further
shoaled into pale green； with a surface scarcely rippled。 Now came the
resurrection hour； the berths gave up their dead。 Who are these pale
specters in plug…hats and silken flounces that file up the companionway
in melancholy procession and step upon the deck？ These are they which
took the infallible preventive of seasickness in New York harbor and then
disappeared and were forgotten。 Also there came two or three faces not
seen before until this moment。 One's impulse is to ask； 〃Where did you
come aboard？〃
We followed the narrow channel a long time； with land on both sides…low
hills that might have been green and grassy； but had a faded look
instead。 However； the land…locked water was lovely； at any rate； with
its glittering belts of blue and green where moderate soundings were； and
its broad splotches of rich brown where the rocks lay near the surface。
Everybody was feeling so well that even the grave； pale young man （who；
by a sort of kindly common consent； had come latterly to be referred to
as 〃The Ass〃） received frequent and friendly noticewhich was right
enough； for there was no harm in him。
At last we steamed between two island points whose rocky jaws allowed
only just enough room for the vessel's body； and now before us loomed
Hamilton on her clustered hillsides and summits； the whitest mass of
terraced architecture that exists in the world； perhaps。
It was Sunday afternoon； and on the pier were gathered one or two hundred
Bermudians； half of them black； half of them white； and all of them
nobbily dressed； as the poet says。
Several boats came off to the ship； bringing citizens。 One of these
citizens was a faded； diminutive old gentleman； who approached our most
ancient passenger with a childlike joy in