" IIUMFBACKING'' AT VAU VAU. 253 



sheet fast in one of our boats, so that a puff of wind 

 never caught us unprepared. 



On that first day we seemed to explore such a 

 variety of stretches of water that one would hardly have 

 expected there could be any more discoveries to make in 

 that direction. Nevertheless, each day's cruise subse- 

 quently revealed to us some new nook or other, some 

 quiet haven or pretty passage between islands that, until 

 closely approached, looked like one. When, at sunset, 

 we returned to the ship, not having seen anything like a 

 spout, I felt like one who had been in a dream, the day's 

 cruise having surpassed all my previous experience. 

 Yet it was but the precursor of many such. Oftentimes 

 I think of those halcyon days, with a sigh of regret that 

 they can never more be renewed to me ; but I rejoice to 

 think that nothing can rob me of the memory of them. 



Much to the discomfort of the skipper, it was four 

 days before a solitary spout was seen, and then it was 

 so nearly dark that before the fish could be reached it 

 was impossible to distinguish her whereabouts. A 

 careful bearing was taken of the spot, in the hope that 

 she might be lingering in the vicinity next morning, 

 and we hastened on board. 



Before it was fairly light we lowered, and paddled 

 as swiftly as possible to the bay where we had last seen 

 the spout overnight. When near the spot we rested on 

 our paddles a while, all hands looking out with intense 

 eagerness for the first sign of the whale's appearance. 

 There was a strange feeling among us of unlawfulness 

 and stealth, as of ambushed pirates waiting to attack 

 some unwary merchantman, or highwaymen waylaying 

 a fat alderman on a country road. We spoke in 

 whispers, for the morning was so still that a voice raised 

 but ordinarily would have reverberated among the rocks 



IS 



