"
"Because you think it is wicked to kill harmless animals of any kind?"
remarked another sailor, who had been listening in utter astonishment.
"Yes, that is the principal reason, though I do not think that man
needs flesh for a diet."
"You think that God made beasts, birds, and fish to look at, and not
to eat," suggested the captain. "In my opinion, the world would be
overrun with dumb animals in time if none were killed for food."
"And I think the human family would perish for want of food, if flesh
were denied them," added one of the crew.
While this conversation was going on, the cook was frying fresh cod,
and the sailors were enjoying the odor therefrom.
"Don't they smell good?" said one, addressing Benjamin; "I shouldn't
want to risk you with one of those fellows if there was no more than I
wanted."
"I once ate fish, and had a special liking for them, and they smell
well enough now in the frying-pan," replied Benjamin. "But I have my
own opinions about killing such animals."
"I should think you had," responded one of the sailors, laughing; "no
one else would ever think of such a thing."
Soon the whole crew were eating cod, and in the jolliest manner making
remarks at Benjamin's expense.
"Look here, my friend," said the cook; "when these fish were opened, I
found smaller ones in their stomachs; now, if they can eat one
another, I don't see why we can't eat them; do you?"
"You must be joking, young man," continued the captain; "better send
all such notions adrift and sit down with us to dine on fish; they are
splendid.
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