OUR RECEPTION. 135 



& \o.w her/' hails the captain, now descending 

 from the masthead. 



We were soon informed that the Betsy Ann had 

 oeen nearly three years from home, and that she 

 had a smart crew, who were not to be beat in get- 

 ting on to a whale, by any set of men in those 

 seas. In a short time the strange vessel was 

 within hail, when the usual salutations were ex- 

 changed. And after duly informing them that wo 

 were four months out and had taken one whale, a 

 week or so ago, we were told in return that they 

 had now nineteen hundred barrels on board, had 

 seen no whales for three weeks, and thought of 

 steering for the Isle of France, in hopes to fall in 

 with some off the shores of that island. 



" Wont you come aboard, Captain Starkweather?' 

 asked our captain. 



" Yes, I'll lower my boat ; let your mate come 

 aboard of us." 



Filling our pockets with tobacco, and our shirt- 

 bosoms with books, we of the mate's boat were 

 soon ready, and lowering the boat, pulled on board 

 the Betsy Ann, a rusty looking old tub as ever 

 floated. 



We were received at the gangway by as motley 

 an assemblage of tanned faces, long beards, and 

 patched garments, as I ever saw. They spoke in 

 low tones, automatically held out their hands to 

 uu, and then, two of our fellows having hooked 

 our boat on, she was hoisted to the davits of the 

 captain's boat. Now filling the main-top-saii 



