CHAPTER V 



THE C OF WHALES 



NE damp morning, with frequent showers 



falling here and there over the sea and not 



a drop wetting the brig, Captain Win- 

 chester suddenly stopped pacing up and down 

 the weather side of the quarter-deck, threw his 

 head up into the wind, and sniffed the air. 



" There's sperm whale about as sure as I live," 

 he said to Mr. Landers. " I smell 'em." 



Mr. Landers inhaled the breeze through his 

 nose in jerky little sniffs. 



" No doubt about it," he replied. " You could 

 cut the smell with a knife." 



I was at the wheel and overheard this talk. I 

 smiled. These old sea dogs, I supposed, were 

 having a little joke. The skipper saw the grin 

 on my face. 



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