36 NJMROD OF THE SEA; OB, 



CHAPTER III. 



Ben's first Whale. — Struck on a Breach. — Cedar cracking, and Ben goes 

 up. — As he rises from deep Water he meets Captain Davis coming 

 down. — He takes a Departure, and strikes out for New London. — Chip- 

 man confirms the Tarn. — Albatross, and one sent homeward as Mes- 

 senger. — ^The Pilot-fish, and its long Passages. — Work of the Watches, 

 and learning the Rigging. — ^Washing, Mending, and other Accomplish- 

 ments of the Sailor. — Lessons taught on the Forehatch of the Chelsea. 

 — My Crony Posey. — His Love Story. — ^Why the Nobility of Nantucket 

 go Whaling. — Posey's Ambition. — The Secret of Nantucket's first Suc- 

 cess. — Successful whaling Co-operation. — Obed Macy's Description of 

 Whaling. 



" We was a-runnin' down the trades, in lat. 13 S., right 

 about this very spot as it might be, and Lish Chipman 

 there, he was at the mast-head, and raised whale. We ran 

 down with the ship convenient, and lowered four boats. 

 Captain Davis was real hungry and cantankerous for a 

 whale, for he hadn't been in a fight for nearly six months ; 

 howsoever, the whale soon turned flukes and staid down, 

 so that I thought he'd never come up ag'in. The captain 

 was mounted on the gunwales, and Lishey was on the box ; 

 and we was a-lookin', each man over the blade of his own oar, 

 to catch the first spout, when suddenly Lish uttered a cry that 

 almost made one's marrow creep. ' Bill,' said Ben, address- 

 ing me, ' you're in his boat, and you'll hear him whisper that 

 way some day, and you won't grow any more after hearin' it.' 



" Well, however, as I was sayin', Lisha, with a quiet yell, 

 not much above a whisper, said, ' Look out for breakers, 

 captain ; take your oars, all of you, and don't speak for your 

 lives.' He grabbed his iron, when, quick as a white squall, 



