The South Sea Whaler

The South Sea Whaler, by
W.H.G. Kingston

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Title: The South Sea Whaler
Author: W.H.G. Kingston
Illustrator: W.H.C. Groome
Release Date: May 15, 2007 [EBook #21479]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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SOUTH SEA WHALER ***

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

THE SOUTH SEA WHALER
BY W.H.G. KINGSTON

CHAPTER ONE.
THE CHAMPION WHALER--THE CAPTAIN AND HIS
CHILDREN--SIGHTS AT SEA-- FRIGATE-BIRDS AND
FLYING-FISH--A BONITO--CATCHING
ALBATROSSES--MUTINOUS MUTTERINGS--A TIMELY
WARNING.
"A prosperous voyage, and a quick return, Captain Tredeagle," said the
old pilot as he bade farewell to the commander of the Champion, which
ship he had piloted down the Mersey on her voyage to the Pacific.
"Thank you, pilot. I suppose it will be pretty nearly three years before
we are back again,--with a full cargo, I hope, and plenty of dollars to
keep the pot boiling at home. It's the last voyage I intend to make; for
thirty years knocking about at sea is enough for any man."
"Many say that, captain; but when the time comes they generally find a
reason for making one voyage more, to help them to start with a better
capital. But as you have got your young ones aboard, you will have
their company to cheer you."
As the old pilot stepped along the deck he shook hands with two young
people, a boy and a girl, who were standing near the gangway.
"Good-bye, Walter; good-bye, Miss Alice; look after father, and obey
him, and God will bless you. If we are all spared, I hope to see you,
Walter, grown into a tall young man; and you, Miss Alice, I suppose I
shan't know you again. Good-bye; Heaven protect you." Saying this,
the old pilot lowered himself into his boat alongside, and pulled away
for his cutter, which lay hove-to at a little distance.
The Champion was a South Sea whaler of about four hundred tons
burden; with a crew, including Mr Andrew Lawrie, the surgeon, of fifty
officers and men. The chief object of the voyage was the capture of the
sperm whale,--which creature is found in various parts of the Pacific
Ocean; but as the war in which England had been engaged since the
commencement of the century was not over, she carried eight guns,

which would serve to defend her both against civilised enemies and the
savage inhabitants of the islands she was likely to visit. The usual
license for carrying guns, or "Letters of Marque," had been obtained for
her by the owners; she was thus able not only to defend herself, but to
attack and capture, if she could, any vessels of the enemy she might
meet with. Captain Tredeagle, being a peace-loving man, had no
intention of exercising this privilege,--his only wish being to dispose of
the ventures he carried, and to obtain by honest exertions a full cargo of
sperm oil.
Walter and Alice waved their hands to the old pilot, as his little vessel,
close-hauled, stood away towards the mouth of the river. It seemed to
them that in parting from him the last link which bound them to their
native land was severed. They left many friends behind them; but it
was their father's wish that they should accompany him, and they
eagerly looked forward to the pleasure of seeing the beautiful islands
they were likely to visit, and witnessing the strange sights they
expected to meet with during the voyage.
While the pilot vessel was standing away, the head-yards of the
Champion were swung round, the sails sheeted home; with a brisk
northerly wind, and under all the canvas she could carry, she ran
quickly down the Irish Channel.
"Here we are away at last," said Captain Tredeagle, as his children
stood by his side; "and now, Walter, we must make a sailor of you as
fast as possible. Don't be ashamed to ask questions, and get information
from any one who is ready to give it. Our old mate, Jacob Shobbrok,
who has sailed with me pretty nearly since I came to sea, is as anxious
to teach you as you can be to get instruction; but remember, Walter,
you must begin at the beginning, and learn how to knot and splice, and
reef, and steer, and box the compass, before you begin on the higher
branches of seamanship. You will learn fast enough, however, if you
keep your eyes and ears open and your wits about