ong whom he had thrown himself.

Soon after this the ship was ready for sea, and as we had not above a
couple of hundred barrels to fill, we hoped soon to be on our homeward
voyage. It was the winter season, and we were bound for the coast of
Japan. We were, however, several months before we got a full ship; and
then, with joyful hearts to most on board, we once more made sail for
Old England.

During all the time, Newman was busily employed in finishing up the
sketches of whale catching, and very beautiful productions they were.
Nothing could be more correct or truth-like. Very different they were,
indeed, from the drawings I have since often seen, where the whale has
had its flukes put on the wrong way, and boats are represented as being
tossed high up in the air, some thirty feet, at least, and broken in
two, while the crews are seen tumbling down like snowflakes, with arms
and legs sprawling out right over the whale. I have seen many a boat
smashed, but never one sent up in that fashion into the air. Newman was
anxious to send these sketches to Mynheer Von Kniper; but as no
opportunity occurred, he was afraid that he would be compelled to wait
till another voyage to present them himself. Captain Carr promised, as
soon as the ship could be refitted, to return on another voyage to those
seas.

We had a quick passage home. I remained, as I had often before done, to
look after the ship. Newman, when he had received his share of profits,
which was very considerable, went on shore. What became of him I do not
know. Not seeing anything of him, I was afraid that he was not going to
return. Something there evidently was very mysterious about his
history. I had a great desire to discover it; still, I saw no chance of
doing so.

Hitherto I had always squandered away my money in the most foolish
manner. I now got Captain Carr to invest some of it for me, and,
retaining a little for pocket-money, with the rest I purchased the best
books I could find, and other articles which I thought likely to be
useful to me in a three years' voyage. At last the ship was ready again
for sea. Tom Knowles and most of the other old hands had joined; for,
being wise men, when they had found a good captain they liked to stick
by him. We hauled out into the stream; but still, greatly to my
disappointment, Newman did not appear.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

BATAVIA AND THE FEEJEE ISLANDS.

The pilot was on board, the topsails we