UNCOMFORTABLY NEAR BEINO THE LAST. 181 



entire loss, so completely smashed to pieces that nothing 

 of her or her gear had been recovered. After spending 

 about a quarter of an hour with me, he left me consider- 

 ably cheered up, promising to look after me in the way 

 of food, and also to send me some books. He told 

 me that I need not worry myself about my inability to 

 be at work, because the old man was not unfavourably 

 disposed towards me, which piece of news gave me a 

 great deal of comfort. 



When my poor, weary shipmates came below from 

 their heavy toil of cutting in, they were almost inclined 

 to be envious of my comfort — small blame to them — 

 though I would gladly have taken my place among 

 them again, could I have got rid of my hurts. But I 

 was condemned to lie there for nearly three weeks 

 before I was able to get about once more. In my sleep 

 I would undergo the horrible anticipation of sliding 

 down that awful, cavernous mouth over again, often 

 waking with a shriek, and drenched with sweat. 



While I lay there, three whales were caught, all 

 small cows, and I was informed that the skipper was 

 getting quite disgusted with the luck. At last I 

 managed to get on deck, quite a different-looking man 

 to when I went below, and feeling about ten years older. 

 I found the same sullen quiet reigning that I had 

 noticed several times before when we were unfortunate. 

 I fancied that the skipper looked more morose and 

 savage than ever, though of me, to my great relief, he 

 took not the slightest notice. 



The third day after my return to duty we sighted 

 whales again. We lowered three boats as promptly 

 as usual; but when within about half a mile of the 

 "pod" some slight noise in one of the boats gallied 



