THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 385 



coral structure, called Hero Island, is located on our charts 

 near our present position. 



Feb. 28. At 2 P.M. "Land ho !" from the mast-head told 

 us that we had i-eached Hero Island. Although but six 

 miles away it was not visible from the deck, but by even- 

 ing we were nearly up to it. It appeared a low, flat spit of 

 sand: 



"A coral Island, stretching east and west; 

 In God's own language to its parent saying, 

 ' Thus far, no farther shalt thou go ; and here 

 Shall thy proud waves be stayed.' " 



Such growing islands as this, right athwart our track, add 

 much to the dangers of the devious, drifting cruise of the 

 whalers. Can one conceive the horrors of wreck on such a 

 spot, out of the way of possible aid and rescue ? We have 

 not seen a ship in these seas. The grave responsibilities 

 streak the hair of oiEcers with early frost. For instance, 



there is Mr. F , who was married just before we sailed. 



Young and brown-haired then, he promises to return to 

 complete his honey-moon a gray-haired man. 



March 2. After two unsuccessful chases this day, in a 

 third we took a miserable little ten-barrel whale, and that 

 at the expense of a broken boat. Mr. Burroughs went on 

 and had the side of his boat laid open by the flukes. The 

 second mate came up and killed the whale. Mr. F fail- 

 ed to fasten. Two small whales _rose under his boat, and 

 lifted it clear of the water. He cried to the men, "Hold 

 your irons !" but when the boat touched water again things 

 were so mixed on board that the whales were out of reach 

 before the irons were recovered. Therefore, we must grease 

 up for two small casks of oil. 



March 5. This is washing and mending day. The oily 

 clothes which have been soaking in a solution made of the 

 alkaline cinders of the try-woi'ks, are first well tramped on 



