was an ideal place for a whaling
station, being right on the Solander.

We found it exceedingly convenient, and much nearer than Port William,
but, from the prevailing winds, difficult of access in nine cases out of
ten, especially when hampered with a whale. Upon cutting-in our
latest catch, an easy explanation of his passive attitude was at once
forthcoming. He had been attacked by some whale-ship, whose irons had
drawn, leaving deep traces of their presence; but during the battle he
had received SEVEN bombs, all of which had entered around his small,
but had not exploded. Their general effect had been, I should think,
to paralyze the great muscles of his flukes, rendering him unable to
travel; yet this could not have taken place until some time after he
had made good his escape from those aggressors. It was instructive, as
demonstrating what amount of injury these colossi really can survive,
and I have no doubt that, if he had been left alone, he would have
recovered his normal energy, and been as well as ever. From our point of
view, of course, what had happened was the best possible thing, for he
came almost as a gift--the second capture we had made on these grounds
of a like nature.

At the close of our operations the welcome news was made public that
four more fish like the present one would fill us bung-up, and that we
should then, after a brief visit to the Bluff, start direct for home.
This announcement, though expected for some time past, gave an amazing
fillip to everybody's interest in the work. The strange spectacle was
witnessed of all hands being anxious to quit a snug harbour for the sea,
where stern, hard wrestling with the elements was the rule. The captain,
well pleased with the eagerness manifested, had his boat manned for a
trip to the entrance of the harbour, to see what the weather was like
outside, since it was not possible to judge from where the ship lay. On
his return, he reported the weather rough, but moderating, and announced
his intention of weighing at daylight next morning. Satisfied that our
days in the southern hemisphere were numbered, and all anxiety to point
her head for home, this news was most pleasing, putting all of us in the
best of humours, and provoking quite an entertainment of song and dance
until nearly four bells.

During the grey of dawn the anchor was weighed. There was no breath of
wind from any quarter, so that it was necessary to lower boats and tow
the old girl