218 THE WHALEMAN'S ADVENTURES. 



got on board there was but one boat in sight, 

 and that was five miles to the leeward of the 

 ship. I went down to it with the ship, and 

 found that it was the second mate's boat. He 

 had seen Captain Hosmer two hours previously, 

 fast to a whale, and went to the leeward of 

 him when last seen from the boat. 



"We proceeded in the direction in which 

 the captain's boat had been last seen, and lay 

 to all night, with all sails set, and with all our 

 lights fixed. In the morning saw nothing of 

 the boat. We cruised three days, but, unfor- 

 tunately, without meeting any trace of her. 

 In the meantime, four of our hands were sick 

 from fatigue, and we were under the necessity of 

 making the best of our way to this port (Payta). 



"We had taken 100 barrels of oil for the 

 last ten days previously, and lost 200 barrels 

 during the same time by losing lines. I expect 

 the captain's boat was taken down by a foul 

 line, as he had a new line in his boat, coiled 

 two days previous to the accident ; we saved 

 one whale the day the accident happened, and 

 lost another that night." 



