3T0 TEE CRUlbE OF TEE " CACEALOT.'' 



CHAPTEE XXVIII. 



TO THE BLUFF, AND HOME. 



And now the cruise of the good old whaling barque 

 Cachalot, as far as whaling is concerned, comes to an 

 end. For all practical purposes she now becomes a 

 humdrum merchantman in haste to reach her final port 

 of discharge, and get rid of her cargo. No more wiU 

 she loiter and pry around anything and everything, from 

 an island to a balk of drift-wood, that comes in her way, 

 knowing not the meaning of "waste of time." The 

 " crow's-nests " are dismantled, taunt topgallant-masts 

 sent up, and royal yards crossed. As soon as we get to 

 sea we shall turn-to and heave that ancient fabric of 

 bricks and mortar — always a queer-looking erection to 

 be cumbering a ship's deck — piecemeal over the side. 

 It has long been shaky and weather-beaten ; it will soon 

 obstruct our movements no more. Our rigging has all 

 been set up and tarred down ; we have painted hull and 

 spars, and scraped wherever the wood-work is kept 

 bright. All gear belonging to whaling has been taken 

 out of the boats, carefully cleaned, oiled, and stowed 

 away for a "full due." Two of the boats have been 

 taken inboard, and stowed bottom-up upon the gallows 

 aft, as any other merchantman carries thorn. At last, 



