98 WHALING AND BEAR-HUNTING 



have the joyous sense of freedom from competitors that we 

 trout and salmon fishers feel when we find our favourite 

 pool is unoccupied by another rod. 



But, dear brother anglers, could I but tell you of the joy 

 of preparation for whaling ! You know how your fingers 

 almost tremble as you undo your casts for the first day's 

 fishing of the year, and what pleasure there is in all the 

 preparations. 



Now we are enjoying a similar pleasure, only our prepara- 

 tions are on a larger scale, fifteen there are of us, all doing 

 something to help. The captain and the writer sit on the 

 bridge and con the chart with thumb and finger, picking up 

 the points rocks, skerries, beacons. " Steady she is now, 

 keep her heading for Muckle Skerry," with Isbister, Moa, Nista 

 and Nacka skerries on our left. Another mile or two in this 

 direction and we will turn westwards right through Yell 

 Sound that divides the main island from the island of 

 Yell. 



A swell comes from the north and there is a fresh, pleasant 

 ripple, and sea and sky are blue as can be expected up north 

 in September, and everyone is busy, some on deck, some below, 

 engineers at the engine it takes very little attention. Then 

 there is a jolly hot fire amidship, where the smith is busy at 

 his forge. The mate gives him a hand with the bellows and 

 there is the cheery sound of the ring and beat of red iron 

 on the anvil. The bos'n, a mere lad, of fairest northern 

 type but of much seafaring knowledge, sits in a sunny spot 

 sewing canvas. Hansen beside him is peeling potatoes, 

 and some of the crew bring up bolts of canvas preparatory 

 to the task we have before us of making awnings, awnings 

 against the hot sun of the equator. It is a little difficult 

 up here in the north to believe there is such a thing as hot 

 weather, when we find two ply of winter clothes none too 

 warm in the sun. 



We have our three guns in the bow still swaddled in canvas, 

 but we will take that off and get them ready farther up the 

 Yell Sound, and perhaps give my late host a salute as we 

 pass Lochend. 



We rather hug ourselves for having at last and at length 



