NIMROD OF THE SEA; OR, 



very much more than in any other Spanish port, we hove 

 up our anchor, and bore away for right -whale feeding- 

 grounds, among the islands which skirt the western coast of 

 Patagonia. 



It must be admitted that we approached this new experi- 

 ence with some trepidation, as officers and men were totally 

 inexperienced in this fishery. The boys encouraged them- 

 selves, however, with the general theory that the right 

 whale, as compared with the spermaceti, is a clumsy, simple- 

 witted, and altogether harmless creature. An amusing in- 

 cident of my boyhood led me to distrust the theory, and 

 stamped on my youthful mind a profound reverence for sim- 

 ple facts. It happened somewhat in this wise : When quite 

 a little fellow, with unbounded confidence in the hunting 

 qualities of a wheezy old terrier who accompanied me, I 



