50 WHALING AND FISHING. 



off the evil hour, if only for a minute more, by 

 asking questions. 



" Go ahead, I'll tell you when to stop. 11 



Paler than so many ghosts, they mount the 

 rigging, now taking a step, then taking the 

 shrouds in their close embrace, now glancing aloft, 

 or around with looks of terror and dismay, anon 

 looking piteously down at the mate, who, hard- 

 hearted fellow, answers them with a " now then, 

 are you fellows going to stick there?" 



"I'm afraid I shan't, sir," answered one, giving 

 vent to a joke in his desperation. But a boat- 

 steerer in each rigging, with a rope's end, soon 

 started them on their upward journey, and having 

 gotten up as high as the top, they were allowed 

 to come down, a proceeding about which they 

 went as circumspectly as though on every step 

 depended a life. Great was their relief when they 

 once more found themselves on deck. 



After a week of such practice, the greater por- 

 tion of the crew were able to take their turn at 

 the masthead to look out, doing but little good 

 there however, as they were not yet fairly re- 

 covered from their sickness. 



Three of our country boys remained seasick, 

 until by dint of neither eating nor taking exer- 

 cise, they were too weak any longer to come upon 

 deck. They spent the days in watching the 

 motions of the vessel, and the nights in groan- 

 ing an i bewailing their hard fate continually 

 wishing themselves back to the homes they had 



