long dreaded moment had arrived. Happily there was no time for
hesitation, in less than two minutes we were all on deck, and hurrying
to our respective boats. There was no flurry or confusion, and except
that orders were given more quietly than usual, with a manifest air of
suppressed excitement, there was nothing to show that we were not
going for an ordinary course of boat drill. The skipper was in the main
crow's-nest with his binoculars presently he shouted, "Naow then, Mr.
Count, lower away soon's y'like. Small pod o'cows, an' one'r two bulls
layin' off to west'ard of 'em." Down went the boats into the water
quietly enough, we all scrambled in and shoved off. A stroke or two of
the oars were given to get clear of the ship, and one another, then oars
were shipped and up went the sails. As I took my allotted place at the
main-sheet, and the beautiful craft started off like some big bird, Mr.
Count leant forward, saying impressively to me, "Y'r a smart youngster,
an' I've kinder took t'yer; but don't ye look ahead an' get gallied, 'r
I'll knock ye stiff wi' th' tiller; y'hear me? N' don't ye dare to make
thet sheet fast, 'r ye'll die so sudden y' won't know whar y'r hurted."
I said as cheerfully as I could, "All right, sir," trying to look
unconcerned, telling myself not to be a coward, and all sorts of things;
but the cold truth is that I was scared almost to death because I
didn't know what was coming. However, I did the best thing under the
circumstances, obeyed orders and looked steadily astern, or up into the
bronzed impassive face of my chief, who towered above me, scanning
with eagle eyes the sea ahead. The other boats were coming flying along
behind us, spreading wider apart as they came, while in the bows of each
stood the harpooner with his right hand on his first iron, which
lay ready, pointing over the bow in a raised fork of wood called the
"crutch."

All of a sudden, at a motion of the chief's hand, the peak of our
mainsail was dropped, and the boat swung up into the wind, laying
"hove to," almost stationary. The centre-board was lowered to stop her
drifting to leeward, although I cannot say it made much difference that
ever I saw. NOW what's the matter, I thought, when to my amazement the
chief addressing me said, "Wonder why we've hauled up, don't ye?" "Yes,
sir, I do," said I. "Wall," said he, "the fish hev sounded, an' 'ef we
run over 'em, we've seen the last ov'em. So we wait awhile till they
rise a