340 THE CRUISE OF THE " CAGEALOT." 



going into port. We bowled along at a fine rate, towing 

 our prize, that plunged and rolled by our side in 

 eccentric style, almost as if still alive. Along about 

 midnight we reached Saddle Point, where there was 

 some shelter from the sea which rolled up the wide 

 open strait, and there we anchored. 



Leaving me and a couple of Kanakas on watch, the 

 captain, and all hands besides, went below for a little 

 sleep. My instructions were to call the captain if the 

 weather got at all ugly-looking, so that we might run in 

 to Port William at once, but he did not wish to do so if 

 our present position proved sufficiently sheltered. He 

 had not been below an hour before there was a change 

 for the worse. That greasy, filmy haze was again drawn 

 over the clear blue of the sky, and the light scud began 

 to fly overhead at an alarmingly rapid rate. So at four 

 bells I called him again. He came on deck at once, 

 and after one look round ordered the hands up to man 

 the windlass. By eight bells (four a.m.) we were 

 rounding the frowning rocks at the entrance of Port 

 William, and threading our way between the closely-set, 

 kelp-hidden dangers as if it were broadest, clearest 

 daylight. At 4,30 we let go the anchor again, and all 

 hands, except the regular " anchor- watch," bolted below 

 to their bunks again like so many rabbits. 



It was very comfortable, cutting-in a sperm whale in 

 harbour, after the dire difficulty of performing the same 

 operation in a seaway. And, although it may seem 

 strange, this was the first occasion that voyage that I 

 had had a really good opportunity of closely studying 

 the whale's anatomy. Consequently the work was 

 exceedingly interesting, and, in spite of the labour 

 involved, I was almost sorry when the job was done. 

 Under the present favourable circumstances we were 



