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Chapter XI. From the Sandwich Islands to the Polar Circle

           

           “Whenheisnotonthewatch,”resumedtheboatswain,“thatsavageleansallthetimewithhiselbowsontheside,asmotionlessasheismute.Hisrightplacewouldbeattheendofourbow,wherehewoulddoforafigureheadtotheHalbrane,andaveryuglyoneatthat!Andthen,whenheisatthehelm,Mr.Jeorling,justobservehim!Hisenormoushandsclutchthehandlesasthoughtheywerefastenedtothewheel;hegazesatthebinnacleasthoughthemagnetofthecompassweredrawinghiseyes.Ipridemyselfonbeingagoodsteersman,butasforbeingtheequalofHunt,I’mnot!Withhim,notforaninstantdoestheneedlevaryfromthesailing-line,howeverroughalurchshemaygive.IamsurethatifthebinnaclelampweretogooutinthenightHuntwouldnotrequiretorelightit.Thefireinhiseyeswouldlightupthedialandkeephimright.”

           Forseveraldaysournavigationwentoninunbrokenmonotony,withoutasingleincident,andunderfavourableconditions.Thespringseasonwasadvancing,andwhalesbegantomaketheirappearanceinlargenumbers.

           Inthesewatersaweekwouldsufficeforshipsofheavytonnagetofilltheircaskswiththepreciousoil.Thusthenewmenofthecrew,andespeciallytheAmericans,didnotconcealtheirregretforthecaptain’sindifferenceinthepresenceofsomanyanimalsworththeirweightingold,andmoreabundantthantheyhadeverseenwhalesatthatperiodoftheyear.TheleadingmalcontentwasHearne,asealing-master,towhomhiscompanionswerereadytolisten.

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