102 THE ORUISE OF THE ''CACHALOT:* 



uttered while at the wheel by the officers, found that my 

 surmise was correct. We skirted this point pretty closely, 

 heading to the westward, and, when well clear of it, bore 

 up to the northward again for the Mozambique Channel. 

 Another surprise. The very idea of whaling in the 

 Mozambique Channel seemed too ridiculous to mention ; 

 yet here we were, guided by a commander who, whatever 

 his faults, was certainly most keen in his attention to 

 business, and the unlikeliest man imaginable to take 

 the ship anywhere unless he anticipated a profitable 

 return for his visit. 



