The Cruise of the Cachalot | Page 8

N.E. wind blowing, so that the
sails required no attention, work proceeded steadily all the morning.
The oars were sorted, examined for flaws, and placed in the boats; the
whale-line, manilla rope like yellow silk, 1 1/2 inch round, was brought
on deck, stretched and coiled down with the greatest care into tubs,
holding, some 200 fathoms, and others 100 fathoms each. New
harpoons were fitted to poles of rough but heavy wood, without any
attempt at neatness, but every attention to strength. The shape of these
weapons was not, as is generally thought, that of an arrow, but rather
like an arrow with one huge barb, the upper part of which curved out
from the shaft. The whole of the barb turned on a stout pivot of steel,
but was kept in line with the shaft by a tiny wooden peg which passed
through barb and shaft, being then cut off smoothly on both sides. The
point of the harpoon had at one side a wedge- shaped edge, ground to
razor keenness, the other side was flat. The shaft, about thirty inches
long, was of the best malleable iron, so soft that it would tie into a knot
and straighten out again without fracture. Three harpoons, or "irons" as
they were always called, were placed in each boat, fitted one above the
other in the starboard bow, the first for use being always one unused
before, Opposite to them in the boat were fitted three lances for the
purpose of KILLING whales, the harpoons being only the means by
which the boat was attached to a fish, and quite useless to inflict a fatal
wound. These lances were slender spears of malleable iron about four
feet long, with oval or heart-shaped points of fine steel about two
inches broad, their edges kept keen as a surgeon's lancet. By means of a
socket at the other end they were attached to neat handles, or
"lance-poles," about as long again, the whole weapon being thus about
eight feet in length, and furnished with a light line, or "lance-warp," for
the purpose of drawing it back again when it had been darted at a
whale.
Each boat was fitted with a centre-board, or sliding keel, which was
drawn up, when not in use, into a case standing in the boat's middle,
very much in the way. But the American whalemen regard these
clumsy contrivances as indispensable, so there's an end on't. The other
furniture of a boat comprised five oars of varying lengths from sixteen
to nine feet, one great steering oar of nineteen feet, a mast and two sails

of great area for so small a craft, spritsail shape; two tubs of whale-line
containing together 1800 feet, a keg of drinking water, and another long
narrow one with a few biscuits, a lantern, candles and matches therein;
a bucket and "piggin" for baling, a small spade, a flag or "wheft," a
shoulder bomb-gun and ammunition, two knives and two small axes. A
rudder hung outside by the stern.
With all this gear, although snugly stowed, a boat looked so loaded that
I could not help wondering how six men would be able to work in her;
but like most "deep-water" sailors, I knew very little about boating. I
was going to learn.
All this work and bustle of preparation was so rapidly carried on, and
so interesting, that before supper-time everything was in readiness to
commence operations, the time having gone so swiftly that I could
hardly believe the bell when it sounded four times, six o'clock.
*
CHAPTER III
FISHING BEGINS
During all the bustle of warlike preparation that had been going on, the
greenhorns had not suffered from inattention on the part of those
appointed to look after them. Happily for them, the wind blew steadily,
and the weather, thanks to the balmy influence of the Gulf Stream, was
quite mild and genial. The ship was undoubtedly lively, as all good
sea-boats are, but her motions were by no means so detestable to a
sea-sick man as those of a driving steamer. So, in spite of their
treatment, perhaps because of it, some of the poor fellows were
beginning to take hold of things "man-fashion," although of course sea
legs they had none, their getting about being indeed a pilgrimage of
pain. Some of them were beginning to try the dreadful "grub" (I cannot
libel "food" by using it in such a connection), thereby showing that
their interest in life, even such a life as was now before them, was
returning. They had all been allotted places in the various boats,
intermixed with the seasoned Portuguese in such a way that the officer

and harpooner in charge would not be dependant upon them entirely in
case of a sudden emergency. Every