THE WHALES ALONG THE SHORE 29 



Jonathan looked towards the late afternoon sun. 'I 

 think I must return to the inn now,' he said, addressing 

 Joseph, Tor I am employed by your father and not by 

 Master Jackson, you know.' 



'Do not worry yourself, Jonathan,' said Joseph reassur- 

 ingly. 'Father knows that whaling is the only thing for 

 a man to do in this island. Keeping an inn is but a hobby 

 for an old man who has had his fill of whaling. You 

 know, of course that he is part owner of several of the 

 sloops?' 



'Yes, I have been employed keeping his accounting 

 books and guessed that he had other interests besides the 

 inn,' replied Jonathan. 



'And there are some bigger ships being built in the 

 yards that he is interested in,' said Ebenezer. 



'That is what this island needs, more ships,' said Joseph. 

 'Father says whales are not so plentiful along the shore as 

 they were, and if we are to stay in the whale fishery we 

 must have more and more ships. There are plenty of 

 whales waiting to be taken in the Greenland waters, 

 provided the great European whaleships do not kill them 

 all before we arrive there. But the sea mist is rising, 

 Jonathan, and you must be on your way. Take the path 

 yonder that runs by the Indian village. You will find 

 it much easier than the one by which you came yester- 

 day.' 



The three lads walked to the huts and after Jonathan 

 had collected his satchel he bade his companions farewell. 



As Jonathan strode along the sandy track the mist 

 drifted in from the sea and wrapped the land in a cold 

 damp blanket of grey. As he walked on he found that the 

 track led through one of the few wooded areas of the 

 island. Ahead the yellow sandy track receded into the fog 

 so that he did not at first notice the tall figure of the Indian 

 striding towards him from the opposite direction. Then, 

 as the man came nearer he saw him and stopped ; he was 



