WHALING AND BEAR-HUNTING 101 



becomes too rough for harpooning ; then we turn tail to the 

 rising sea and fine rain and do a patrol southwards. As it 

 still grows rougher and there is no sign of any kind of life, 

 whales or birds, or whales' food 1 in the water, and as we have 

 a sheltered anchorage on our lee, we right about, and head 

 for Colla Firth and Lochend for the night. 



For we argue that we can make a more certain " departure " 

 from Colla Firth if the weather improves to-morrow morning 

 than we could make after drifting a night in a strong wind 

 in the open sea. 



Now we have at last a fair wind almost aft, and up goes 

 our foresail and staysail and cheerily we hoist away at main- 

 sail, all hands pleased to turn back from a nasty sea to a cosy 

 night in shelter. We tramp along in great style, a sailing- 

 ship once more, plus the engine going steadily. We ought 

 to drop anchor in shelter before dark. How big the sails 

 seem to-day, with all the reefs out. Dear me ! that foresail 

 must have looked very small indeed in last week's gale, with 

 all the reefs in, a mere pocket-handkerchief bit of mainsail. 



St Ebba lies over with the squalls off shore as we get 

 into the wind again, but she doesn't roll much and we feel 

 increasing belief in her as a sailing-ship. 



1 In these waters a small shrimp called a " krill " colours the water a 

 rusty red for miles. 



