the untimely exit of a respected politician

Our cook aboard Varua once had a memorable experience when a curious whale swam under the ship and surfaced next to the galley porthole in a spyhop.

Here Grey Beaver stopped. A whisper of the gold-rush had reached his ears, and he had come with several bales of furs, and another of gut-sewn mittens and moccasins. He would not have ventured so long a trip had he not expected generous profits.

“The general says that if you are wise you will leave before the cannons come. Otherwise you′ll get ‘napooed,’ ” and he made an expressive gesture. “Compris?”