50 THE WHALE HUNTERS 



As the Pilgrim drew away the remaining words of the 

 Red Rose's captain were lost on the wind. 



During the following day the Pilgrim passed at different 

 times two of the Nantucket sloops returning to port and 

 on each occasion, upon being hailed and asked what 

 success they had had, they reported full cargoes of 

 blubber. There were murmurs of envy from the Pilgrim's 

 men for although these sloops were of only about thirty 

 tons burden and their cargo capacity not much more than 

 required for the blubber of one large whale, they had 

 been at sea for only eight days. In addition to their 

 cargoes of blubber they reported good catches of cod, for 

 it was customary in these small ships for men not employed 

 on lookout duties to employ their time catching fish. In 

 fact, most whaling voyages about this time were not con- 

 fined entirely to the hunting of whale but to alternative 

 pursuits such as catching fish, seal and walrus and trading 

 with natives. 



On the tenth day the ship was beset by a dead calm near 

 the southern entrance of the Belle Isle Straits between 

 Newfoundland and the mainland. After hours of pacing 

 the deck and calling upon his Maker for a capful of wind 

 Captain Slocum stopped suddenly in his tracks and 

 shouted, *There are whales two miles on your starboard 

 bow! Call all hands ! Lower the boats !' 



Even the mate of the watch looked dumbfounded as he 

 scanned the sea in vain for the sight of a spout. 



*Mr. Todd!' roared the captain. 'Didst thou hear me 

 or art thou deaf? Those whale will escape us before we 

 sink a single iron. Stir thyself, man ! Wake up, wake up !' 



After that the sleepy ship came suddenly to life and 

 within a few minutes the two boats were in the water and 

 the crews pulling as if their very lives depended upon it. 

 But they had barely cleared away from the ship's side 

 when the Captain's voice boomed at them across the 

 water. 



