FIGHTING  THE  WHALES.  29

The  storm  ceased  almost  as  quickly  as  it  began,
and  although  the  sea  did  not  all  at  once  stop  the
heavings  of  its  angry  bosom,  the  wind  fell  entirely
in  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  the  dark  clouds
broke  up  into  great  masses  that  were  piled  up
high  into  the  sky,  and  out  of  the  midst  of  these
the  glorious  sun  shone  in  bright  rays  down  on  the
ocean,  like  comfort  from  heaven,  gladdening  our
hearts  as  we  busily  repaired  the  damage  that  we
had  suffered  from  the  storm.
30  FIGHTING  THE  WHALES.
CHAPTER   III.
OUE    FIRST    BATTLE.
I  SHALL  never  forget  the  surprise  I  got  the
first  time  I  saw  a  whale.
It  was  in  the  forenoon  of  a  most  splendid  day,
about  a  week  after  we  arrived  at  that  part  of  the
ocean  where  we  might  expect  to  find  fish.  A
light  nor'-east  breeze  was  blowing,  but  it  scarcely
rufiled  the  sea,  as  we  crept  slowly  through  the
water  with  every  stitch  of  canvas  set.
As  we  had  been  looking  out  for  fish  for  some
time  past,  everything  was  in  readiness  for  them.
The  boats  were  hanging  over  the  side  ready  to
lower,  tubs  for  coiling  away  the  ropes,  harpoons,
lances,  etc.,  all  were  ready  to  throw  in,  and  start
away  at  a  moment's  notice.  The  man  in  the
"  crow's  nest,"  as  they  call  the  cask  fixed  up  at
the  masthead,  was  looking  anxiously  out  for
whales,  and  the  crew  were  idling  about  the  deck.
Tom  Lokins  was  seated  on  the  windlass  smoking
his  pipe,  and  I  was  sitting  beside  him  on  an
empty  cask,  sharpening  a  blubber-knife.
