No explorer, when meeting a savage tribe
with which he doesn't want to fight, could possibly wave a whale, even
if he had one with him--and he wouldn't be likely to, unless he was
exploring the polar regions--whereas he can wave an olive branch, and
always does. That's the reason the olive branch and not the whale is
chosen as the symbol of peace. You'll be able to realise now how
extraordinarily peaceable the Major is when I compare him to a dove
with an olive leaf in his mouth."
"If," said Simpkins, who had only partially followed the reasoning
about the dove and the olive--"if the Major apologises for the way he
spoke, I'm quite ready--"
"He doesn't actually apologise," said Meldon. "You can hardly expect
that of him. I think myself he's going as far as can reasonably be
expected of him when he asks you out for a day's yachting. Very few
men would do as much; and I may say to you, Simpkins, that if you'd
been in church to-day and heard my sermon, you wouldn't be inclined now
to stand out for an apology. You would, in fact, most likely be
looking out for an olive leaf and a dove of your own to carry to the
Major."
"But he was entirely in the wrong about the fishing.
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