Chapter 11

           NewBaytownisalovelyplace.Itsharbor,onceagreatone,isshelteredfromthenortheastscreamersbyanoffshoreisland.Thevillageisstrewnaboutacomplexofinlandwatersfedbythetides,whichatebbandflowdrivewildracesthroughnarrowchannelsfromtheharborandthesea.Itisnotacrowdedoranurbantown.Exceptforthegreathousesofthelong-gonewhalers,thedwellingsaresmallandneat,distributedamongfineoldtrees,oaksofseveralkinds,maplesandelms,hickoryandsomecypresses,butexceptfortheoldplantedelmsontheoriginalstreets,thenativetimberislargelyoak.Oncethevirginoaksweresomanyandsolargethatseveralshipyardsdrewplanksandknees,keelsandkeelsons,fromnearby.

           Communities,likepeople,haveperiodsofhealthandtimesofsickness—evenyouthandage,hopeanddespondency.TherewasatimewhenafewtownslikeNewBaytownfurnishedthewhaleoilthatlightedtheWesternWorld.StudentlampsofOxfordandCambridgedrewfuelfromthisAmericanoutpost.Andthenpetroleum,rockoil,gushedoutinPennsylvaniaandcheapkerosene,calledcoaloil,tooktheplaceofwhaleoilandretiredmostoftheseahunters.SicknessordespairfellonNewBaytown—perhapsanattitudefromwhichitdidnotrecover.Othertownsnottoofarawaygrewandprosperedonotherproductsandenergies,butNewBaytown,whosewholelivingforcehadbeeninsquare-riggedshipsandwhales,sankintotorpor.ThesnakeofpopulationcrawlingoutfromNewYorkpassedNewBaytownby,leavingittoitsmemories.