call there on our way
home. So that we were still two whales short of our quantity. What a
little space it did seem to fill up! Our patience was sorely tested,
when, during a whole week following our last haul, we were unable to put
to sea. In vain we tried all the old amusements of fishing, rambling,
bathing, etc.; they had lost their "bite;" we wanted to get home. At
last the longed-for shift of wind came and set us free. We had hardly
got well clear of the heads before we saw a school of cachalots away on
the horizon, some twelve miles off the land to the southward. We made
all possible sail in chase, but found, to our dismay, that they were
"making a passage," going at such a rate that unless the wind freshened
we could hardly hope to come up with them. Fortunately, we had all day
before us, having quitted our moorings soon after daylight; and unless
some unforeseen occurrence prevented us from keeping up our rate of
speed, the chances were that some time before dark they would ease
up and allow us to approach them. They were heading to the westward,
perhaps somewhat to the northward withal, to all appearance making
for the Solander. Hour after hour crawled by, while we still seemed to
preserve our relative distance, until we had skirted the southern shore
of the island and entered the area, of our old fishing ground. Two
vessels were cruising thereon, well to the northward, and we thought
with glee of the excitement that would seize them did they but gain an
inkling of our chase.

To our great delight, what we had hoped, but hardly dared expect, came
to pass. The school, as if with one impulse, hauled up on their course
four points, which made them head direct for the western verge of the
Solander ground, and--what was more important to us--made our coming up
with them a matter of a short time. We made the customary signals with
the upper sails to our friends to the northward, who recognized them
immediately, and bore down towards us. Not only had the school shifted
their course, but they had slackened speed; so that by four o'clock we
were able to lower for them at less than a mile distance.

It was an ideal whaling day--smooth water, a brisk breeze, a brilliant
sun, and plenty of whales. I was, as became my position, in the rear
when we went into action, and hardly hoped for an opportunity of doing
much but dance attendance upon my seniors. But fortune favoured me.
Before I had any idea whether the chief was fas