4 THE WHALE HUNTERS 



undulating land that could boast of nothing approaching 

 a hill like those of his native Somerset, and the stunted, 

 weather-bent trees seemed to cling tenaciously to the soil, 

 where they grew in the few wooded areas. Tall tripods 

 of spars stood along the shore at wide but regular intervals. 

 These and the masts of the vessels in the harbour were the 

 only rehef to the low, horizontal lines of the scene. Other 

 details revealed themselves as the sloop crossed the bar. 

 At the head of the lagoon-like harbour a wooden wharf on 

 spindly piles reached out over the shallow water and, 

 clustered behind it, was a collection of odd-looking 

 wooden buildings with thatched roofs, which were the 

 humble dwellings of the inhabitants. On either side of 

 the wharf were rough slipways with small, squat vessels 

 propped on shore-legs, and several other vessels of this type 

 lay at the moorings in the harbour. 



'Down jib!' cried the captain. Then, 'Down mains'l!' 

 as the sloop came up into the wind, and in a few moments 

 she was secure alongside the wharf. 



The island folk, many of whom were of pure Indian 

 stock, flocked around the gangplank curious to see what 

 cargo the trading packet had brought them. Above the 

 hubbub of many voices the boy could hear that of the first 

 mate addressing the bewildered little group of survivors. 



'The ship will be away on this same tide,' he was 

 shouting, 'and I advise those among you who wish to 

 sail with us to the mainland ports to be on this vessel's 

 deck within two hours from now. Those of you who are 

 absent I shall deem to have discovered some hospitality 

 here and to be content to stay.' 



Only those who were standing very near him heard 

 him add in lower tones, 'There are better places than this 

 to seek your fortune, but please yourselves.' 



The boy looked again at the flat landscape and was 

 inclined at first to agree with the mate. 



The island of Nantucket, which at this period in history 



