CHAPTER TWELVE 



The English Whalers 



BY THE BEGINNING of August the Dutch whaling fleet had 

 been driven by the advancing ice fringe to the southern 

 tip of Greenland. 



As whales became more scarce in those lower latitudes 

 those ships with full cargoes of blubber were ordered by 

 the commodore to proceed to one of the fiords and take 

 on water and then to return to Holland. 



A cold north wind was blowing as the Der Browery took 

 up her station in the homeward-bound line of ships. 

 Jonathan and Joseph in their white coats made from the 

 fur of polar bears counted nine ships in the line and 

 speculated upon how many of their companions might 

 be making the passage in them. 



To the westward they watched a flotilla of heavy Ger- 

 man whaleships running under shortened sail before the 

 wind for Cape Farewell. In a few weeks those ships 

 would be discharging their cargoes in the port of Bremen 

 or Hamburg. 



The shrill note of a bosun's pipe called the lads to the 

 midday meal and they joined the watch at the long table 

 in the forecastle. Chimoo was there already sipping his 



