p or "blanket-piece" was cut off to the
flukes; which "blanket-piece," by-the-by, the mate told Walter, was so
called because it kept the whale warm. As soon as this was done, the
shapeless mass, deprived of its fat, was allowed to float away, to
become the prey of numberless seafowl and various fish. A hole being
now cut into the case of the head, a bucket was fixed to a long pole and
thrust down, and the valuable spermaceti bailed out till the case was
emptied, when the head was let go, and, deprived of its buoyant
property, quickly sank from view.

The next operation was to boil the spermaceti, and to stow it away in
casks. The blanket-piece being cut up into small portions, they were
thrown into the try-pots; the crisp pieces which remained after the oil
was extracted, called "scraps," serving for fuel. This last operation
is called "trying out."

Four days elapsed before both the carcasses were got rid of, and the oil
stowed away in casks in the hold. Fortunately the weather remained
calm, or the operation would have taken much longer. This was
considered a very good beginning, and the captain hoped he should hear
no more grumbling.

We must rapidly pass over the events of several weeks. Two ports in the
northern part of Peru were visited, in order to dispose of to the
inhabitants some of the goods brought out, and to obtain fresh
provisions. It was a work of some risk, as the _Champion_ would have to
defend herself against any Spanish men-of-war which might fall in with
her. After this, she touched at the volcanic-formed Galapagos Islands,
situated on the line, at some distance from the continent. Here a
number of huge tortoises were captured,--a welcome addition to the
provisions on board. The ship remained some time in port, that the
rigging might be set up, and that she might undergo several necessary
repairs. From this place she sailed northward, touching at the Sandwich
Islands,--then in almost as barbarous a condition as when discovered by
Captain Cook. The inhabitants, however, had learned to respect their
white visitors, and willingly brought them an abundance of fresh
provisions. Captain Tredeagle was too wise not to take precautions
against surprise. Some of the worst of the crew, however, grumbled
greatly at not being allowed to visit the shore, and showed signs of
mutinous intentions; their ringleader, as before, being the boatswain.
By constant watchfulness and firmness the captain m