Fighting the Whales | Page 6

tumbling waves. But I am not sure that that's the reason either, because,
you know, we often sail through them without seeing the light, though
of course they must be there."
"P'raps, sir," said Tom Lokins; "p'raps, sir, they're sleepy sometimes,

an' can't be bothered gettin' angry."
"Perhaps!" answered the captain, laughing. "But then again, at other
times, I have seen them shining over the whole sea when it was quite
calm, making it like an ocean of milk; and nothing was disturbing them
at that time, d'ye see."
"I don' know that," objected Tom; "they might have bin a-fightin'
among theirselves."
"Or playing, may be," said I.
The captain laughed, and, looking up at the sky, said, "I don't like the
look of the weather, Tom Lokins. You're a sharp fellow, and have been
in these seas before, what say you?"
"We'll have a breeze," replied Tom, briefly.
"More than a breeze," muttered the captain, while a look of grave
anxiety overspread his countenance; "I'll go below and take a squint at
the glass."
"What does he mean by that, Tom," said I, when the captain was gone,
"I never saw a calmer or a finer night. Surely there is no chance of a
storm just now."
"Ay, that shows that you're a young feller, and han't got much
experience o' them seas," replied my companion. "Why, boy,
sometimes the fiercest storm is brewin' behind the greatest calm. An'
the worst o' the thing is that it comes so sudden at times, that the masts
are torn out o' the ship before you can say Jack Robinson."
"What! and without any warning?" said I.
"Ay, almost without warnin'; but not altogether without it. You heer'd
the captain say he'd go an' take a squint at the glass?"
"Yes; what is the glass?"

"It's not a glass o' grog, you may be sure; nor yet a lookin'-glass. It's the
weather-glass, boy. Shore-goin' chaps call it a barometer."
"And what's the meaning of barometer?" I inquired earnestly.
Tom Lokins stared at me in stupid amazement.
"Why, boy," said he, "you're too inquisitive. I once asked the doctor o'
a ship that question, and says he to me, `Tom,' says he, `a barometer is
a glass tube filled with quicksilver or mercury, which is a metal in a
soft or fluid state, like water, you know, and it's meant for tellin' the
state o' the weather.'
"`Yes, sir,' I answers, `I know that, well enough.'
"`Then why did you ask?' says he, gettin' into a passion.
"`I asked what was the meanin' o' the word barometer, sir,' said I.
"The doctor he looked grave at that, and shook his head. `Tom,' says he,
`if I was to go for to explain that word, and all about the instrument, in
a scientific sort o' way, d'ye see, I'd have to sit here an' speak to you
right on end for six hours or more.'
"`Oh, sir,' says I, `don't do it, then. Please, don't do it.'
"`No more I will,' says he; `but it'll serve your turn to know that a
barometer is a glass for measurin' the weight o' the air, and, somehow
or other, that lets ye know wots a-coming. If the mercury in the glass
rises high, all's right. If it falls uncommon low very sudden, look out
for squalls; that's all. No matter how smooth the sea may be, or how
sweetly all natur' may smile, don't you believe it; take in every inch o'
canvas at once.'"
"That was a queer explanation, Tom."
"Ay, but it was a true one, as you shall see before long."
As I looked out upon the calm sea, which lay like a sheet of glass,

without a ripple on its surface, I could scarcely believe what he had
said. But before many minutes had passed I was convinced of my error.
While I was standing talking to my messmate, the captain rushed on
deck, and shouted--
"All hands tumble up! Shorten sail! Take in every rag! Look alive, boys,
look alive."
I was quite stunned for a moment by this, and by the sudden tumult that
followed. The men, who seemed never to take thought about anything,
and who had but one duty, namely, to obey orders, ran upon deck, and
leaped up the rigging like cats; the sheets of nearly all the principal
sails were clewed up, and, ere long, the canvas was made fast to the
yards. A few of the smaller sails only were left exposed, and even these
were close reefed. Before long a loud roar was heard, and in another
minute the storm burst upon us with terrific violence. The ship at first
lay over so much that the masts were almost in the water, and it was as
impossible