ACROSS THE INDIAN OCEAN 



121 



That evening Hodge found Thomas making an entry in 

 his diary at the cabin table. 



'Making a report to old man Oakley, eh?' he jeered. 

 'Giving him the lowdown on the officers he employs, eh?' 



Thomas did not reply but continued with his difficult 

 task of writing whilst swaying his body against the pitching 

 motion of the ship. 



The ship ploughed valiantly onwards and as she drew 

 near to the south-western tip of the Australian continent 

 the wind eased and the sun shone through breaks in the 

 clouds. Reefs were shaken out of the sails and strings of 

 wet clothing fluttered in the rigging. 



The harpooners climbed the jibboom to practise their 

 skill on the porpoises that danced under the bows. 



'Jamie's gotten himself a big one,' cried the cabin boy 

 as peering over the bows he saw Thomas's harpooner score 

 a hit and watched the sleek black and white sea mammal 

 hauled up and over the side by the men who had taken 

 the harpoon line. 



'You's gonna have porpoise steaks for supper to-night, 

 honey,' chuckled old Ebony the cook. 



'Jamie!' called Thomas. 'When you've done amusing 

 yourself perhaps you'll give the boat a run over with me.' 



'Aye, aye, Mr. Oakley, I'm just coming.' 



Jameson came aft with a broad grin on his round red 

 face. Thomas was never quite certain whether he was of 



