36 THE WHALE HUNTERS 



when we ceased pulling I was able to gather a little of this 

 water in a can. The water was not discoloured but it 

 contained many small sea creatures which one of the oars- 

 men told me was the food of the right whale. 



Eighteenth of June, Mr. Mather has granted me my 

 release from his service in order that I may journey to the 

 whaling camps with Joseph and seek employment there 

 for I am determined to master the crafts of whaling and 

 intend that with the aid of the education that I received 

 from my father to stand one day as master upon the poop 

 of my own whaleship. 



Twenty-third of June, After several days employed in the 

 menial tasks of the whaling camp I was given the midships 

 oar of one of the boats and we gave chase to a pod of 

 small whales but I fear that I made such a sorry mess of 

 the task that Master Jackson will not permit me to enter 

 in the boats again. He made known to me his conviction 

 that my ambition is greater than my ability and that I 

 shall need to grow some more muscle upon my bones 

 before I am able to pull a whaleboat's oar. 



Twenty-fourth of June. Joseph and I are firm compan- 

 ions now. Upon seeing my disappointment over being 

 kept at cleaning whale fins and other dull tasks on the 

 beach whilst he is in the boats he made the suggestion that 

 we should both return to the harbour and seek berths in 

 the whaleships bound for the north. So we drew our lay 

 of the profits and made for home. 



