Chapter 8—A Catastrophe
Experienced whaleman as he was, Captain Hull knew the difficulty of the task he had undertaken, he was alive to the importance of making his approach to the whale from the leeward, so that there should be no sound to apprize the creature of the proximity of the boat. He had perfect confidence in his boatswain, and felt sure that he would take the proper course to insure a favourable result to the enterprise.
“We mustn’t show ourselves too soon, Howick,” he said.
“Certainly not,” replied Howick, “I am going to skirt the edge of the discoloured water, and I shall take good care to get well to leeward.”
“All right,” the captain answered, and turning to the crew said, “now, my lads, as quietly as you can.”
Muffling the sound of their oars by placing straw in the ro
