66 BRINGING MR. TOWNSEND BACK AGAIN. 



opened, the men came up on deck, and as the 

 visitors clambered down into their canoe again I 

 heard the old man whisper over the rail, " Now 

 remember, my man, two white flags and you get 

 your reward! " 



Then we stood off and put to sea, cruising the 

 grounds again looking for whales. 



One warm, bright, clear-shining Southern morn- 

 ing we were fanning along under a cloud of canvas 

 over a delightfully smooth sea, when a cry from 

 the clouds called down the spirited warning I had 

 heard on a former occasion : 



" There she blows ! Sperm whale ! " 



" Where away ?" 



There was breathless excitement on deck. My 

 heart hammered against my ribs. I shook with 

 bewildered suspense. 



" Four points on the lee bow, sir." 



The words stabbed through and through me. 



"How far off?" 



" Three miles, sir." 



The captain was in his element. His eyes 

 blazed. His face was white. His voice was harsh 

 and strident. He was master of a splendid 

 occasion. 



"Call all hands!" he thundered. "Get your 

 boats ready ! Square the mainyard ! Put the 



