Herbert would have liked to keep this superb bird, as its wound would soon heal, and he thought he could tame it; but Spilett explained to him that they should not neglect this opportunity of attempting to communicate by this messenger with the lands of the Pacific; for if the albatross had come from some inhabited region, there was no doubt but that it would return there so soon as it was set free.
Harbert hubiera querido conservar aquella ave, cuya herida se curó rápidamente, a la cual quería domesticar; pero Gedeón Spilett le hizo comprender que no podía desaprovecharse aquella ocasión de intentar una correspondencia mediante aquel correo con las tierras del Pacífico; y Harbert tuvo que ceder, porque, si el albatros había venido de alguna región habitada, volvería a ella cuando se viese libre.