384 NIMROD OF THE SEA; OR, 



navigate, and we should be home again. But my mind 

 looked forward with something of misgiving, for up to this 

 time (thirty-eight months from home) I had not received a 

 single word from my kindred ; nor had I seen a newspaper 

 from my native city ; so that all at home was in a cloud of 

 doubt and uncertainty. Naturally my mind anticipated the 

 continuance of a life which had become famUiar and easy to 

 me. Having doubled the forecastle, the way was opening 

 to whatever might be my deserts in the boats or on board 

 the ship. 



We now bore away to the north, to run to Talcahuana 

 for repairs, and to recruit for the homeward passage. 

 Much of the spare time was devoted to overhauling our 

 clothing and increasing our warmth by doubling our flannel 

 shirts, or placing one within another, and closely stitching 

 them with blue woolen yarn, much in the manner of quilt- 

 ing. Thus we succeeded in making an admirable garment 

 for the cold weather ofE Cape Horn, and on the American 

 coast in March. 



As the ship is plowing her way to our port, I will take 

 the opportunity to insert incidents in right -whale fishing 

 which have come to my knowledge since the journal was 

 written, premising that they have been received by word of 

 mouth from the actors, who are whaling captains, now re- 

 tired from the business, and living in safety and ease on 

 well-earned fortunes. 



In a peaceful, happy home on toiig Island, surrounded by 

 a beautiful family, I listened to the following account of an 

 encounter with a fighting right whale. I omit the name of 

 the narrator, for I feel that the grand old man would shrink 

 from the appearance of parading his whaling experiences. 

 I call him an old man, as his snowy hair and beard indicate 

 the snows of many winters ; yet he has only filled forty-six 

 years of life. Gigantic in form and power, with a head to. 



