upplies could readily be obtained. We had heard many
glowing accounts from visitors, when "gamming," of the delights of this
well-known port of call for whalers, and under our new commander we had
little doubt that we should be allowed considerable liberty during our
stay. So we were quite impatient to get along fretting considerably at
the persistent fogs which prevented our making much progress while in
the vicinity of the Kuriles. But we saw no more bowheads, for which none
of us forward were at all sorry. We had got very tired of the stink
of their blubber, and the never-ending worry connected with the
preservation of the baleen; besides, we had not yet accumulated any
fund of enthusiasm about getting a full ship, except as a reason for
shortening the voyage, and we quite understood that what black oil we
had got would be landed at Hawaii, so that our visit to the Okhotsk Sea,
with its resultant store of oil, had not really brought our return home
any nearer, as we at first hoped it would.

A great surprise was in store for me. I knew that Captain Count was
favourably inclined towards me, for he had himself told me so, but
nothing was further from my thoughts than promotion. However, one Sunday
afternoon, when we were all peacefully enjoying the unusual rest (we
had no Sundays in Captain Slocum's time), the captain sent for me. He
informed me that, after mature consideration, he had chosen me to fill
the vacancy made by the death of Mistah Jones. Mr. Cruce was now mate;
the waspish little third had become second; Louis Silva, the captain's
favourite harpooner was third; and I was to be fourth. Not feeling at
all sure of how the other harpooners would take my stepping over their
heads, I respectfully demurred to the compliment offered me, stating
my reasons. But the captain said he had fully made up his mind,
after consultation with the other officers, and that I need have no
apprehension on the score of the harpooners' jealousy; that they
had been spoken to on the subject, and they were all agreed that the
captain's choice was the best, especially as none of them knew anything
of navigation, or could write their own names.

In consequence of there being none of the crew fit to take a harpooner's
place, I was now really harpooner of the captain's boat, which he
would continue to work, when necessary, until we were able to ship a
harpooner, which he hoped to do at Hawaii.

The news of my promotion was received in gr