The South Sea Whaler | Page 7

result
of their former acts. I have seen many albatrosses killed, and the people
who killed them have returned home in safety; though possibly
accidents may have occurred in other instances to those who have
killed one of the birds. Still seamen have got the notion into their heads,
and it is very hard to drive it out."
"I am sure of that," said Walter, "though the boatswain was quite angry
with me for doubting what he asserted."
While he was speaking, another large albatross came sweeping by.
"For my part, I am not afraid of catching a second," exclaimed Hulk;
"and if there is ill-luck in killing one, there may be good luck in
catching two." Saying this, he prepared his hook and line, and was
ascending to the yard to let it tow overboard as before.
"It will be a good thing for you if you do catch two," exclaimed the
boatswain. "We want good luck for the ship, for little enough of it we
have had as yet." But before Hulk could get out his line the albatross
was seen to swoop downwards, and immediately afterwards it rose with
a huge fish in its talons, into which it plunged its powerful beak with a
force which must have speedily put an end to its prey. Powerful,
however, as were its wings, it could not rise with so great a weight, but
commenced tearing away at the flesh of its victim as it floated on the
surface. It thus offered a fair mark to any who might wish to shoot it.
Three of the ship's muskets were brought up by some of the younger
officers, who were about to fire.
"Let me have a shot," said the boatswain, taking one of them. "I seldom

miss my aim."
The captain, who had been below, just then coming on deck, observing
what they were about, ordered them to desist, observing--
"I don't wish to lower a boat to pick up the bird, and I consider it
wanton cruelty to shoot at it."
The boatswain pretended not to hear him, and taking aim, he fired. The
bird was seen to let go its prey, and, after rising a few feet, to fall back
with wings extended into the water, where it lay fluttering helplessly.
The ship gliding on, soon left it astern.
"I consider that a piece of wanton cruelty, Mr Capstick," exclaimed the
captain. "I must prohibit the ship's muskets being made use of for such
a purpose; they are intended to be used against our enemies, not
employed in slaughtering harmless birds."
The boatswain returned the musket to the rack, muttering as he did so;
but what he said neither the captain nor his mates were able to
understand.
The ship had now nearly reached the latitude of the Falkland Islands,
and in a short time she would be round Cape Horn, and traversing the
broad waters of the Pacific. Hitherto few ships had been seen, either
friends or foes; a lookout had been kept for the latter, as the crew hoped
that, should they fall in with an enemy's merchantman of inferior size,
the captain would capture her to give them some much coveted
prize-money. Two had been seen which were supposed to be small
enough to attack, but the captain had declined going in chase of them,
greatly to the annoyance of the crew; and the boatswain and others
vowed they would not longer stand that sort of thing.
Walter was walking the deck during his middle watch the next night,
when Dan Tidy came up to him.
"Hist, Mr Walter," he said in a low voice. "Will you plaise just step to
the weather-gangway, out of earshot of the man at the helm? I have got

something I would like to say to you."
Walter stepped to the gangway, and, seeing no one near, asked Tidy
what he had to communicate.
"I wouldn't wish to be an eavesdropper or a tale-bearer, Mr Walter; but
when the lives of you and your father and most of the officers are at
stake, it's time to speak out. I happened to be awake during my watch
below when the boatswain came for'ard, and I heard him and Tom Hulk
and about a dozen others talking in whispers together. I lay still,
pretending to be asleep, as, of course, they thought were the rest of the
watch. Capstick began grumbling at the chance there was that we
should take no prizes; and declared that, for his part, he was not going
to submit to that sort of thing. The others agreed with him, and swore
that they would stand by him, and do whatever he proposed. Some said
that the best thing would be to go to the captain, and insist that