176 FOLLOW THE WHALE 



Joshua Pomferoy's whole soul was now concentrated upon reach- 

 ing Makatoqua's side before the two canoe fleets joined up and 

 started back into the sound behind the whales, for with their su- 

 perior speed they would get away from the gig and he would be 

 left like a pregnant sheep on a hillside, while the rest of the flock 

 trooped into the fold. But it was the chief who came to him. Seeing 

 the approach of the white men, he dropped to the belly of his ca- 

 noe and with deft strokes of his long paddle came bounding straight 

 across the waves to the gig. When he drew near, he raised his hand 

 in welcome and called out in his high-pitched sing-song voice a 

 greeting in his own language which, if the colonist had only known, 

 was reserved for very special occasions. Then, turning to the small 

 boy, he gave certain instructions, for he had never quite mastered 

 the language of the foreigners, and as they drifted by, the boy 

 stood up and, cupping his hands, called out: 



"Sires, be you hence to see or to command? So asks my great 

 father." 



Joshua Pomferoy replied immediately, likewise cupping his hands 

 and giving forth with the full power of his tremendous lungs. "We 

 be present to help, tell your father." At which the small boy fell to 

 earnest conversation with the old chief, who was obviously bewil- 

 dered by this strange statement. 



Finally the boy rose again and called out, "Would the masters 

 kill the bedagir 



"We would help kill the great fish," Joshua Pomferoy called 

 back, and the process of interpretation was repeated in the chief's 

 canoe. 



"Would the masters have killing sticks?" the boy called back. 



The colonists looked at each other and then at Master Pomferoy. 

 This was, indeed, a sorry state of affairs, for they would have to 

 admit that all they had were axes and boat hooks and three kitchen 

 irons sharpened by smith Harvey and lashed to poles. But Master 

 Pomferoy was not to be deprived of his initiative, especially before 

 a heathen. 



"Egad!" he yelled back. "Tell the chief we have all that be 

 needed. We follow him and we strike when he strikes." Then, turn- 

 ing to the men in the boat, he shouted, "Pull for the fairway, men; 



