DR.  FRANKLIN.  37

the  sailors  all  fell  to  fishing  for  cod,  of  which  they  presently
took  great  numbers  and  very  fine.  Instead  of  being  de-
lighted at  this  sight,  Ben  appeared  much  hurt,  and  began  to
preach  to  the  crew  on  their  ''injustice,"  as  he  called  it,  in
thus  taking  away  the  lives  of  those  poor  little  fish,  who,
"  had  never  injured  them,  nor  ever  could."  The  sailors  were
utterly  dum-founded  at  such  queer  logic  as  this.  Taking
their  silence  for  conviction,  Ben  rose  in  his  argument,  and
began  to  play  the  orator  quite  outrageously  on  the  main
deck.  At  length  an  old  wag  of  a  boatswain,  who  had  at
first  been  struck  somewhat  aback  by  the  strangeness  ot  this
attack,  took  courage,  and  luffing  up  again,  with  a  fine  breeze
of  humour  in  his  weather-beaten  sail,  called  out  to  Ben,
iiTFell,  but  my  young  Master  preacher,  may  not  ice  deal  by
these  same  cod  here,  as  they  deal  by  their  neighbours."

ii  To  be  sure,"  said  Ben.
"  Well  then,  sir,  see  here,"  replied  the  boatswain,  holding
up  a  stout  fish,  "  see  here  what  a  whaler  I  took  just  now  outo*
the  belly  of  that  cod!"  Ben  looking  as  if  he  had  his  doubts,
the  boatswain  went  on,  "  O  sir,  if  you  come  to  that,  you  shall
have  proof;"  whereupon  he  laid  hold  of  a  large  big-bellied
cod  that  was  just  then  flouncing  on  the  deck,  and  ripping
him  open,  in  the  presence  of  Ben  and  the  crew,  turned  out
several  young  cod  from  his  maw.
