“They always do,” Watters said.
“I’ve told you our side, the truthful side,” Urquhart still sounded bitter. “The harpooner Kilner told a different story. He said that when Arthur’s boat found the whale, Amelia’s boat was not even in sight. Our advocate asked if Amelia’s harpoon was not sticking out of the whale, and he admitted that it was, but without a line, so nothing attaching it to the boat.”
Arthur’Amelia’Amelia“It was a loose whale, then,” Fairweather murmured.
“Exactly so,” Urquhart agreed.
“What does that mean?” Watters asked.
“A loose whale is open to anybody to capture,” Fairweather explained. “If Kilgour thought the whale was loose, he was quite entitled to harpoon it for Arthur. Urquhart has already told us the whale had shaken off the jack. If Amelia’s boat was still att
