88 



THE WHALE HUNTERS 



himself to his stalwart first officer, 'And thy watch, Mr. 

 Macy, shall be responsible for the removal of stores from 

 the ship and the loading of them into the whaleboat. 

 Take food, muskets and ammunition and enough sailcloth 

 to make tents. We shall need some whale blubber for 

 fuel and light and also to make smoke signals, and a few 

 casks of rum to keep us warm. With God's help I hope 

 that we shall reach the edge of the ice where it meets the 

 sea. There we should sight the foreign whalers sailing out 

 of the Arctic for it is still July and there should be many 

 not yet returned to Europe. Take courage, my friends, 

 for the good Lord is with us in our trials.' 



When, after several hours, the preparations were 

 completed he called them around him once more and 

 bade them kneel in prayer. 



Then, refreshed with new spiritual strength they arose 

 and set their faces to the westward to meet the ordeal that 

 they knew awaited them. 



Jonathan pulled tight the cord of the canvas bag in 



