other
whale-ships which were already there. They were the DIEGO RAMIREZ, of
Nantucket; the CORONEL, of Providence, Rhode Island; and the GRAMPUS,
of New Bedford. These were the first whale-ships we had yet seen, and
it may be imagined how anxious we felt to meet men with whom we could
compare notes and exchange yarns. It might be, too, that we should get
some news of that world which, as far as we were concerned, might as
well have been at the other extremity of the solar system for the last
year, so completely isolated had we been.

The sails were hardly fast before a boat from each of the ships was
alongside with their respective skippers on board. The extra exertion
necessary to pilot the ship in had knocked the old man up, in his
present weak state, and he had gone below for a short rest; so the three
visitors dived down into the stuffy cabin, all anxious to interview
the latest comer. Considerate always, Mr. Count allowed us to have the
remainder of the day to ourselves, so we set about entertaining our
company. It was no joke twelve of them coming upon us all at once, and
babel ensued for a short time. They knew the system too well to expect
refreshments, so we had not to apologize for having nothing to set
before them. They had not come, however, for meat and drink, but for
talk. And talk we did, sometimes altogether, sometimes rationally; but I
doubt whether any of us had ever enjoyed talking so much before.

CHAPTER XIV. LIBERTY DAY--AND AFTER

There is generally current among seamen a notion that all masters of
ships are bound by law to give their crews twenty-four hours' liberty
and a portion of their wages to spend every three months, if they are in
port. I have never heard any authority quoted for this, and do not know
what foundation there is for such a belief, although the practice is
usually adhered to in English ships. But American whale-ships apparently
know no law, except the will of their commanders, whose convenience is
always the first consideration. Thus, we had now been afloat for well
over a year, during which time, except for our foraging excursions at
the Cocos and Aldabra, we had certainly known no liberty for a whole
day.

Our present port being one where it was impossible to desert without
the certainty of prompt recapture, with subsequent suffering altogether
disproportionate to the offence, we were told that one watch at a time
would be allowed their liberty for a day. So we o