74 WHALING AND BEAR-HUNTING 



going to give up this ocean north-east of Shetland, and go 

 south-westwards some seventy-five miles till we see the 

 Flugga Lighthouse, thence we will make a new departure 

 and go and have a cast in the North-West Atlantic. 



Ah ! but I have hopes there were big finners in families 

 out there last year, at about this time they came up from the 

 south, possibly from even south of the Line. I remember the 

 oldest members were very exclusive, but some of the younger 

 people made our acquaintance. There was one, an island ! 

 may I have a shot at it is my prayer, then would there be 

 some real interest in life for us all. 



So we practically put in the Sunday without work, only 

 watch and hope, and make a passage ; but the two engineers 

 and two boy stokers work. One of the stokers looked as if 

 he did so hate work this morning came on deck with his 

 black face disfigured with an expression that meant : "I 

 could kill anyone if I was strong enough ! " He is such a 

 sleeper that Larsen, his master, to waken him, took down 

 the foghorn in the small hours and blared it into his ears. 

 Henriksen in the chart-house where he sleeps, jumped at the 

 sound, and I too, sleeping aft over the rudder, dreamt I 

 heard the sweet note. 



It is a curious little family party we are ; bit by bit, 

 I begin to know about the individual, gentle, blue-eyed 

 Vikings, about their farms, and boats, at home ; for farms 

 and even sheep have a certain interest at sea, when you 

 are not watching for whales. 



One of them, a long, young man, with pale eyes and three 

 or four fair hairs on his chin, has such a kind expression, and a 

 stutter ! It is the funniest thing in the world, in the be- 

 ginning or the middle of a chase, if he is at the wheel, to listen 

 to him, as he tackles the speaking tube. He spits hurriedly, 

 then in a sing-song note, he says: "F-f-ulls-s-speed," twists 

 the wheel and spits again, saying some Norse expression for 

 " Tut-tut " or " Oh, bother," and then the same performance 

 at " S-s-saghte " (i.e. Slowly). Finally he gives up stutter- 

 ing words down the tube and resorts to the engine-room bell 

 for signalling. 



I have already touched on the interesting subject of meals 



