Here I saw for the first time, in any number to speak of, the Mission-boys, the converted Natives, half sacerdotally attired, whatever office they might be filling […]

A and C are in equilibrium following the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics.

to untie a knot

He developed an obstreperous baritone […] and he made himself rather preponderant, whether he happened to know the song or not.