FALSE ALARM. 33 



as he said, oppressed witli ennui, manufactured a set 

 of dominoes from a sperm whale's jaw ; another con- 

 trived dice; whilst a third made a checker-board; a 

 fourtli originated a sweat-table ; and thus we were 

 attended by this evil throughout the voyage — the only 

 intermission being Sundays and the time occupied 

 in capturing and taking care of whales. 



When a week out from home a false alarm was 

 raised of " There she blows ! There she blows !" con- 

 tinued for some twenty or thirty times in succession, 

 at intervals of about thirty seconds. The boatsteerer 

 on the maintopgallant crosstrees, on being asked 

 "Where away," by the captain, answered, "Two 

 points on the lee bow, about two miles ofi:'." All 

 hands were called, the lines put into the boats ; they 

 were then hoisted, swung and lowered, the crew 

 following the boats down the sides of the ship, and 

 leaping in the moment they touched the water; then 

 shoving oii' and pulling in the direction of the fish. 

 Soon the boatsteerer was ordered to stand up, then 

 to give it to him, then to give him the other iron ; 

 and then we found that there had been no whales 

 seen, but that the whole affair was arranged to 

 familiarize us with boat duty, so that we might be 

 acquainted with the rigmarole when occasion required. 

 At first but little order or regulation was observed, 

 each one pulling on his own hook ; but after some 

 little instruction we managed to make the boat go 

 ahead without describing half a dozen circles before 

 starting. As we became warm with the exercise, the 

 old hands grew excited, and gave their short, quick 

 orders of " Give it to him ! Stern, stern all — hard ! 

 Stern, men, for your lives !" with as much enthusiasm 



c 



