48 



THE WHALE HUNTERS 



It occurred to Jonathan as he watched the tall gaunt 

 figure that the man might even think himself some sort of 

 god, so superior was he in his attitude to his men. 



On the third morning the lookout sighted two of the 

 sloops that had sailed ahead of the Pilgrim. The vessels 

 were hove to in a southerly breeze and their boats were 

 away to leeward of them. At first the Pilgrim^ s men 

 thought they were after whale but on drawing closer 

 they found that the boats were being exercised. 



*Bring her close to leeward of the Red Rose, helmsman,' 

 ordered the captain, but the poor man at the wheel was 

 not so familiar with Sherburne whalers as was his com- 

 mander who, on seeing that the man was steering for the 



