midnight
Let us cruise where the currents are strong , where the rocks are dangerous : in the frozen North or in sight of coral island or low beach and palm trees , where there is an uncertainty of return in gold , but a wealth of interest and adventure and experience . The coral islands and the palm groves in this great sea are not in the South Pacific ; nor the ice floes north or south of a certain degree ; nor the swift currents and dangerous rocks near some inhospitable shore , but at home ; and the ships that pass are our companions . And the ships of interest are the barks that sail as fancy whispers in the chart room or the tramp trader , at Sidney today , tomorrow at Malta , or the derelict . And who would not rather hear and know the story of such a vessel and voyage than smell the oil of the tanker or hear from daybreak to midnight the victrola , the piano and the chit-chat of the passenger liner . And , strange to tell , most of us when on a most wonderful cruise with everything within reach , though out of sight , because we jab our eyes sightless wiping the tears away , bewail our luck , saying : `` See I a dog ? There 's ne'er a stone to throw ! Or stone ?