68 THE WHALE HUNTERS 



whilst Others, ashamed of their earher superstitions or 

 their lack of courage in the face of danger, were more diffi- 

 dent; but the attitude of Sykes towards the boy had not 

 changed ; nor could it be expected to do so whilst the fear 

 of his guilt being communicated to the Indians gnawed 

 deeper and deeper into his black heart. 



There was no room now in the minds of the men for 

 any scheme he might have for turning them against the 

 boy and as the ship sailed on its way he found himself 

 shunned and alone. 



The task of chopping up the large pieces of blubber 

 and stowing it in the casks in the hold was soon completed. 

 The decks, christened at last with the blood and oil of the 

 whale, were scrubbed as clean as ever. 



With her rigging repaired and all sails filling the little 

 Pilgrim reached for the Arctic Circle. The fulmars in her 

 wake heard the voices of men chanting songs of their 

 homeland and joined chorus with their own sad cries. 



