His CAPTORS. 183 



In working Dress. Ready for a Run. 



cutting up the blanket pieces into horse pieces,, 

 ready for mincing ; others piking the pieces 

 from one tub to another, ready for the mincers ; 

 some tending the fires, some filling up casks 

 with hot oil from the cooler ; every man busy, 

 and each at his place, but the decks confusedly 

 strown with barrels, and tubs, and whaling gear, 

 like a street with goods in it after a fire. 



All at once, says an old whaler, in a yarn of 

 random recollections of his youth, all at once, 

 a voice clear as the lark, and to the ear of the 

 whaleman far sweeter, rang through the ship, 

 THERE SHE BLOWS ! Again and again it is re- 

 peated, at regular intervals. Now the captain 

 hails the mast head : " Where away is that 

 whale, and what do you call her ?" 



" Sperm whale, sir, three points on the weath- 

 er bow, not over two miles off." 



" Get your boats ready ; slack down the fires ; 

 and stand by to lower away !" 



The boats' crews each stand by their own 

 boat, some of the men help put in the tub of 

 line, others lay down the boat-tackle falls in 

 such a way that they will run clear. The boat- 

 steerer bends on his harpoons, the gripes are 

 cast clear of the boats, and now comes the word, 



