oducts
that could be readily detected. And at the price we paid for it, there
was a clear profit of cent. per cent., even had we kept it separate and
sold it for what it was. But I suppose it was worth the Maories' while
thus to dispose of it and quickly realize their hard earnings.

So far, our last excursion had been entirely satisfactory. We had not
suffered any loss or endured any hardship; and if only such comfortable
proceedings were more frequent, the Solander ground would not have any
terrors for us at least. But one afternoon there crept in around the
eastern horn of the harbour three forlorn and half-dismantled vessels,
whose weather-worn crews looked wistfully at us engaged in clearing up
decks and putting away gear upon the finishing of our trying-out. Poor
fellows! they had seen rough times since that unforgettable evening when
we parted from them at the other end of the island, and watched them
slowly fade into the night. Two of them were so badly damaged that
no further fishing was possible for them until they had undergone a
thorough refit, such as they could not manage there. One was leaking
badly, the tremendous strain put upon her hull in the vain attempt to
hold on to the two whales she had during the gale having racked her
almost all to pieces. The third one was still capable of taking the
ground again, with sundry repairs such as could be effected by her crew.
But the general feeling among all three crews was that there was more
loss than gain to be expected here, in spite of the multitude of whales
visiting the place.

As if to fill up their cup, in came the old CHANCE again, this time with
a whale on each side. Captain Gilroy was on the house aft, his chubby
red face in a ruddy glow of delight, and his crew exuberant. When he
passed the American ships, as he was bound to do very closely, the
sight of their scowling faces seemed to afford him the most exquisite
amusement, and he laughed loud and long. His crew, on the impulse of the
moment, sprang to the rail and cheered with might and main. No one could
gainsay that they had good reason, but I really feared for a time that
we should have "ructions," As Paddy said, it was not wise or dignified
for those officers to be so angry with him on account of his success,
which he frankly owned was due almost entirely to the local knowledge he
possessed, gained in many years' study of the immediate neighbourhood.
He declared that, as far as the technical d