338 TEE CRUISE OF THE " CACHALOT.'' 



vapour till the stoutest stomach there protested in 

 unmistakable terms against such vile treatment. Know- 

 ing too well that the blubber was now worthless, the 

 skipper gave orders to cut the corrupt mass adrift. This 

 was speedily effected by a few strokes of a spade through 

 the small. Away went eight hundred pounds' worth of 

 oil — another sacrifice to the exigencies of the Solander, 

 such as had gained for it so evil a reputation. 



Doubtless a similar experience had befallen all the 

 other ships, so that the aggregate loss must have run 

 into thousands of pounds, every penny of which might 

 have been saved had steam been available. 



That gale lasted, with a few short lulls, for five days 

 longer. When at last it took off, and was succeeded by 

 fine weather, we were so far to the southward that we 

 might have fetched the Aucklands in another twenty- 

 four hours. But, to our great relief, a strong southerly 

 breeze set in, before which, under every rag of canvas, 

 we sped north again. 



Steady and reliable as ever, that good south wind 

 carried us back to our old cruising ground ere it blew itself 

 out, and we resumed our usual tactics as if nothing had 

 happened, being none the worse as regards equipment 

 for our adventures. Not so fortunate our companions, 

 who at the same time as ourselves were thrust out 

 into the vast Southern Ocean, helplessly burdened and 

 exposed defenceless to all the ferocity of that devouring 

 gale. Two of them were here prowling about, showing 

 evident signs of their conflict in the battered state of 

 their hulls. The glaring whiteness of new planking in 

 many places along the bulwarks told an eloquent story 

 of seas bursting on board carrying all before them, 

 while empty cranes testified to the loss of a boat in 

 both of them. As soon as we came near enough. 



