CHAPTER IV 



TURTLES AND PORPOISES 



WE slipped out of Turtle bay one moon- 

 light night and stood southward. We 

 were now in sperm whale waters and the 

 crews of the whale boats were selected. Cap- 

 tain Winchester was to head the starboard boat; 

 Mr. Landers the larboard boat; and Gabriel the 

 waist boat. Long John was to act as boat- 

 steerer for Mr. Winchester, Little Johnny for 

 Mr. Landers, and Mendez for Gabriel. The 

 whale boats were about twenty-five feet long, 

 rigged with leg-of-mutton sails and jibs. The 

 crew of each consisted of an officer known as a 

 boat-header, who sat in the stern and wielded the 

 tiller; a boatsteerer or harpooner, whose position 

 was in the bow; and four sailors who pulled the 

 stroke, midship, tub, and bow oars. Each boat 



