48 WHALING AND PISHING 



hazard so dangerous an undertaking as " going 

 aloft in the dark." 



"Your time will come soon only wait, my 

 lads," said the mate. 



During the night we had what would hav 

 been for a merchant vessel a stiff top -gall an 

 breeze. We were, however, reefed down, as f 

 matter of prudence, not knowing how hard it 

 might come on to blow, and having but few hands 

 to depend upon. The green hands were upon 

 their beam ends in all the horrors of seasickness, 

 alternately vomiting, and praying for deliverance 

 from what they imagined to be a most unprece- 

 dented gale. All their bright anticipations of 

 the pleasures of a sailor's life were vanished, and 

 they wished for nothing so much as " home." 



But the night came to an end. as all nights mui^, 

 do, and the sun rising bright and glorious from 

 the sea, scattered the storm-clouds, and made our 

 verdant friends more cheerful. "Wan and dis- 

 spirited they came upon deck, and laid themselves 

 down in the cheering sun, looking and feeling as 

 though just recovered from a severe illness. 



It is notorious that seasickness is a weakness 

 for which, as no one was ever known to die of it, 

 no non-sufferer feels aught but contempt. Little 

 of tho pity and kindness, therefore, which they 

 felt to be their due, did our sick men receive. A 

 gruff " get out of the way, greeny," from the mate 

 as he stumbled over a form prostrate in the gang- 



