N1MROD OF THE SEA; OR, 



CHAPTER III. 



Ben's first Whale. Struck on a Breach. Cedar cracking, and Ben goes 

 up. As he rises from deep "Water he meets Captain Davis coming 

 down. He takes a Departure, and strikes out for New London. Chip- 

 man confirms the Yarn. Albatross, and one sent homeward as Mes- 

 senger. The Pilot-fish, and its long Passages. Work of the Watches, 

 and learning the Rigging. Washing, Mending, and other Accomplish- 

 ments of the Sailor. Lessons taught on the Forehatch of the Chelsea. 

 My Crony Posey. His Love Story. Why the Nobility of Nantucket 

 go Whaling. Posey 's Ambition. The Secret of Nan tucket's first Suc- 

 cess. Successful whaling Co-operation. Obed Macy's Description of 

 Whaling. 



was a-runninV down the trades, in lat. 13 S., right 

 about this very spot as it might be, and Lish Chipman 

 there, he was at the mast-head, and raised whale. We ran 

 down with the ship convenient, and lowered four boats. 

 Captain Davis was real hungry and cantankerous for a 

 whale, for he hadn't been in a fight for nearly six months ; 

 howsoever, the whale soon turned flukes and staid down, 

 so that I thought he'd never come up ag'in. The captain 

 was mounted on the gunwales, and Lishey was on the box ; 

 and we was a-lookin', each man over the blade of his own oar, 

 to catch the first spout, when suddenly Lish uttered a cry that 

 almost made one's marrow creep. ( Bill,' said Ben, address- 

 ing me, ' you're in his boat, and you'll hear him whisper that 

 way some day, and you won't grow any more after hearin' it.' 

 " Well, however, as I was sayin', Lisha, with a quiet yell, 

 not much above a whisper, said, f Look out for breakers, 

 captain ; take your oars, all of you, and don't speak for your 

 lives.' He grabbed his iron, when, quick as a white squall, 



