The Jubarte

           CaptainHull,anexperiencedwhaler,wouldleavenothingtochance.Thecaptureofajubarteisadifficultthing.Noprecautionoughttobeneglected.Nonewasinthiscase.

           And,firstofall,CaptainHullsailedsoastocomeuptothewhaleontheleeward,sothatnonoisemightdisclosetheboat’sapproach.

           Howikthensteeredthewhale-boat,followingtheratherelongatedcurveofthatreddishshoal,inthemidstofwhichfloatedthejubarte.Theywouldthusturnthecurve.

           Theboatswain,setoverthiswork,wasaseamanofgreatcoolness,whoinspiredCaptainHullwitheveryconfidence.HehadnottofeareitherhesitationordistractionfromHowik.

           "Attentiontothesteering,Howik,"saidCaptainHull."Wearegoingtotrytosurprisethejubarte.Wewillonlyshowourselveswhenwearenearenoughtoharpoonit."

           "Thatisunderstood,sir,"repliedtheboatswain.

           "Iamgoingtofollowthecontourofthesereddishwaters,soastokeeptotheleeward."

           "Good!"saidCaptainHull."Boys,aslittlenoiseaspossibleinrowing."

           Theoars,carefullymuffledwithstraw,workedsilently.Theboat,skilfullysteeredbytheboatswain,hadreachedthelargeshoalofcrustaceans.Thestarboardoarsstillsankinthegreenandlimpidwater,whilethosetolarboard,raisingthereddishliquid,seemedtoraindropsofblood.

           "Wineandwater!"saidoneofthesailors.

           "Yes,"repliedCaptainHull,"butwaterthatwecannotdrink,andwinethatwecannotswallow.