36 THE CRUISE OF THE *' CACHALOT." 



fulfilling all the presentiments of yesterday, the long 

 dreaded moment had arrived. Happily there was no 

 time for hesitation, in less than two minutes we were 

 all on deck, and hurrying to our respective boats. There 

 was no flurry or confusion, and except that orders were 

 given more quietly than usual, with a manifest air of 

 suppressed excitement, there was nothing to show that we 

 were not going for an ordinary course of boat drill. The 

 skipper was in the main crow's-nest with his binoculars. 

 Presently he shouted, " Naow then, Mr. Count, lower 

 away soon's y'like. Small pod o'cows, an' one 'r two 

 bulls layin' off to west'ard of 'em." Down went the 

 boats into the water quietly enough, we all scrambled 

 in and shoved off. A stroke or two of the oars were given 

 to get clear of the ship, and one another, then oars were 

 shipped and up went the sails. As I took my allotted 

 place at the main-sheet, and the beautiful craft started 

 off like some big bird, Mr. Count leant forward, saying 

 impressively to me, " Y'r a smart youngster, an' I've 

 kinder took t'yer ; but don't ye look ahead an' get gallied, 

 'r I'll knock ye stiff wi' th' tiller ; y'hear me ? N' don't 

 ye dare to make thet sheet fast, 'r ye'll die so sudden y' 

 won't know whar y'r hurted." I said as cheerfully as I 

 could, " All right, sir," trying to look unconcerned, telling 

 myself not to be a coward, and all sorts of things ; but 

 the cold truth is that I was scared almost to death 

 because I didn't know what was coming. However, I 

 did the best thing under the circumstances, obeyed orders 

 and looked steadily astern, or up into the bronzed im- 

 passive face of my chief, who towered above me, scanning 

 with eagle eyes the sea ahead. The other boats were 

 coming flying along behind us, spreading wider apart as 

 they came, while in the bows of each stood the harpooner 



