puzzled.

"I'll get the glass," suggested Juarez.

This done, he took a good long pull at it, his legs well braced
against the roll of the ship, and making a very nautical figure
indeed. Then he made out the enemy clearly; three big black hulls
they were, and then from the bow of one a column of steam--or was
it water?--went slanting into the air. Juarez's frame stiffened
with interest and excitement.

"Whales!" he cried.

"What's that, lad?" It was the captain, who was supposedly asleep in
his cabin, which was the deck house, but he responded quickly to the
magic word, "Whales."

"Gimme the glass," he ordered, his hand outstretched. The boys watched
him with interested attention. "Three of 'em," he cried. "Gosh! I wish
I was younger."

By this time the whole Frontier gang was present on the quarter deck
looking at the dark spots on the blue ocean that now had become
visible to the naked eye. To say that they were interested was to put
it very mildly. There was a strange interest to these marine monsters.

"Let's get one of those fellows," cried Juarez. "We have a couple of
harpoons."

"Get ready, boys," cried Jim. "It's a go."

"What!" roared the captain. "You boys can't spear a whale even if you
did get nigh him. He would spank you to kingdom come with his tail.
You stay right here where I can keep an eye on you. The idea of you
tackling a whale. Why, it's plumb ridiculous. Just a passel of kittens
when it comes to whaling." Then he stopped to blow, entirely
exhausted.

CHAPTER VI

DANGEROUS WORK

However foolhardy the proposition, the boys were determined, and then
they were in the majority, so they overruled the captain. A chance
like that was not to be permitted to slip. They had hunted bears,
mountain lions, Indians, outlaws, ducks and much other game, but never
had whales come within range before, and at least they were going to
try to make their preliminary acquaintance.

"Well, boys, as I ain't responsible to your parents, yer might jest as
well end yer lives by the flap of a whale's tail as go on to be hung,
because that, in my opinion, will come to you sooner or later, being
so reckless." But down in his heart the old fellow was pleased with
their enterprise and pluck.

"Better come along and take care of us, Captain," urged Jim, "so these
fellows won't bite us."

"All the fishing I'll ever do now will be for minnows over the rail,"
replied the captain. "My whaling days are over.