lowed, when the whole eight were on board, for dinner; then all hands
turned to again to "flench" the blubber, and prepare for trying-out.
This was a heavy job, keeping all hands busy until it was quite
dark, the latter part of the work being carried on by the light of
a "cresset," the flames of which were fed with "scrap," which blazed
brilliantly, throwing a big glare over all the ship. The last of the
carcases was launched overboard by about eight o'clock that evening, but
not before some vast junks of beef had been cut off and hung up in the
rigging for our food supply.

The try-works were started again, "trying-out" going on busily all
night, watch and watch taking their turn at keeping the pots supplied
with minced blubber. The work was heavy, while the energetic way in
which it was carried on made us all glad to take what rest was allowed
us, which was scanty enough, as usual.

By nightfall the next day the ship had resumed her normal appearance,
and we were a tun and a quarter of oil to the good. Black Fish oil is of
medium quality, but I learned that, according to the rule of "roguery
in all trades," it was the custom to mix quantities such as we had just
obtained with better class whale-oil, and thus get a much higher price
than it was really worth.

Up till this time we had no sort of an idea as to where our first
objective might be, but from scraps of conversation I had overheard
among the harpooners, I gathered that we were making for the Cape
Verde Islands or the Acores, in the vicinity of which a good number
of moderate-sized sperm whales are often to be found. In fact, these
islands have long been a nursery for whale-fishers, because the cachalot
loves their steep-to shores, and the hardy natives, whenever and
wherever they can muster a boat and a little gear, are always ready to
sally forth and attack the unwary whale that ventures within their ken.
Consequently more than half of the total crews of the American whaling
fleet are composed of these islanders. Many of them have risen to the
position of captain, and still more are officers and harpooners;
but though undoubtedly brave and enterprising, they are cruel and
treacherous, and in positions of authority over men of Teutonic or
Anglo-Saxon origin, are apt to treat their subordinates with great
cruelty.

CHAPTER IV. BAD WEATHER

Nautical routine in its essential details is much the same in all ships,
whether naval, merchant, or whaling