At that moment Captain Graybrook lifted his instrument to his eye, and
the mate and Harry followed his example.

"The sun has dipped; make it noon," said the captain; and the ship's
bell was struck.

Having written off their observations and quickly made their
calculations, the ship was found to be about seventeen degrees south of
the line, off the coast of Peru.

Look-out men were sent aloft, for they were now approaching a part of
the ocean where whales were in those days likely to be found. As they
looked over the side, many polypi, medusae, and squid were observed
floating on the surface; and occasionally a covey of flying-fish, rising
from the water, darted rapidly over it, quickly again, as their
brilliant wings dried, to sink down and become the prey of their
enemies, the dolphin or bonito. A seaman had just hauled a bucket of
water on deck. Within it was a gelatinous-looking mass. The mate and
his young companions examined it.

"That is part of a squid," he observed, "the whale's food. Probably the
remainder is down the monster's maw. We shall sight a whale before the
day is over, I hope."

"I hope so too," said Harry. "I long to see one killed and brought
alongside. We have had a dull time of it since we touched at
Valparaiso. I thought we should have captured a dozen or more before
this."

"You will have to learn patience at sea, my boy," observed the mate.
"We have three years to remain out, and may consider ourselves fortunate
if we get a full ship at the end of that time."

The sextants had been returned to their cases in the cabin, and Harry
and his chum, Dickey Bass, finding it very hot, seated themselves in the
shade by the side of a gun, of which the _Steadfast_ carried eight,
besides a good supply of muskets and cutlasses and other weapons; for,
having to visit regions inhabited by fierce and savage tribes, she was
well armed.

"I say, Harry, what was old Tom talking to you about in your watch last
night, and what made you look so grave this morning? I could not tell
what had come over you," said Dickey Bass.

"He asked me whether I was prepared to die. I thought it an odd
question."

"I should think it was," said young Bass. "What did you say in return?"

"I told him that I had not thought about it, and that, as I enjoyed
life, I had no intention of leaving it," answered Harry. "He then
reminded me that I might fall overboard any day, or the ship might be
lost with all han