ALL IN A DAY'S WORK 163 



stinctively snuffing her prey. The whale was one of those 

 patriarchal old bulls who are often found alone, and would 

 probably stay down more than an hour before he would be 

 seen again. Meantime, the two ships were rapidly nearing 

 each other; and the Pandora^ s lookouts were not long in dis- 

 covering that ^something was up,' as was evinced by her set- 

 ting the main royal and f oretopmast studding-sail, though they 

 could not possibly have seen the whale yet. But the whale 

 was apparently working slowly to windward, and the Pandora 

 coming with a flowing sheet, all of which was much in her 

 favour. The old man remained aloft, anxiously waiting the 

 next rising, from time to time hailing the deck to know 'what 

 time it was' and satisfying himself that the boats were in 

 readiness and breakfast served out to those who wanted it. 

 As three quarters of an hour passed, he grew more anxious 

 and fidgety, shifting his legs about in the crosstrees and clutch- 

 ing the spy-glass in his nervous grasp. 



'''Are you all ready, Mr. Grafton?' 



'"Ay, ay, sir,' answered the mate from the main-top, where 

 he had mounted to get a look at the whale when he should rise 

 again. 



"'Let them hoist and swing the boats.' 



'"Ay, ay, sir.' 



"'I think I saw a ripple then,' said the second mate, from 

 the topsail yard directly beneath him. 



"'Where?' demanded the captain. 



" 'Four points off the lee bow.' 



'"Oh, no, you didn't, he won't come there. He'll rise ahead 

 or a little on the weather bow. I don't think he'll go to wind- 

 ward — good gracious! see that Pandora come down! She'll 

 be right in the suds here directly ! I think we've run far enough, 

 eh, Mr. Grafton? Haul the main sail up, then ! and square the 

 main yard!' 



"Silence for a few minutes after this evolution was performed. 



'"He can't be far off when he comes up again. Look at the 

 men old Worth has got aloft there, his crosstrees swarming, and 

 every rattlin manned. Look sharp! all of ye! We must see 



