104 THE WHALE HUNTERS 



smoking a stubby clay pipe as if content to leave any 

 swearing that the occasion demanded to his more demon- 

 strative shipmates. 



'It is the Englishman's belief that he has but to show his 

 flag in any part of land or sea to make it at once the pos- 

 session of King George,' he explained dourly. 'Or per- 

 haps he has sighted a porpoise in the fiord and is afraid 

 we shall steal it from him.' He pointed the stem of his 

 pipe towards the Englishmen. 'The South Sea Company 

 gives them fine enough ships to hunt the whale but they 

 have lost the art of the trade and have left it to we Dutch- 

 men to show the world how to kill whales for profit.' 



The sound of bunting flapping in the wind caused him 

 to look aloft at the signal that was being hoisted. 



'It seems,' he said, 'that our captain wishes to hand you 

 over to these English ships.' 



'Shall we be able to return to New England?' asked 

 Joseph eagerly. 



'What port will they take us to?' asked Jonathan, 

 hoping that it might be the Bristol which he knew so well. 



'I think that they will go to London,' replied the Dutch 

 sailor. 'There you will be able to find a ship more easily 

 than in the Dutch whaling ports.' 



'Shall we meet others from the Pilgrim in the English 

 ships ?' asked Jonathan. 



The Dutchman looked into the boy's serious face under 

 its hood of white fur. 'No, my son, they are in the ships 

 from which we parted company.' He swung his gaze 

 to the English whalers. 'I see the affirmative signal flies 

 on one of the Englishmen so you should prepare your- 

 selves for a change of ships.' 



The two lads found their Indian companion and told 

 him the news. Soon the trio stood waiting on the deck, 

 Jonathan with his precious canvas bag resting at his feet. 

 They watched one of the EngHsh ships come smartly into 

 the wind and lower a boat which was soon under the 



