ey were likely to be useful hands. When we got on board the
_Intrepid_, Mr Griffiths spoke very kindly to them, and as they at once
said that they would be glad to enter, their names were put down as
belonging to the crew.

I took a liking from the first to Miles Soper, though he was perfectly
uneducated, and could neither read nor write. Sam also seemed an honest
merry fellow. He and the other Africans soon became friends.

The crew had been employed on the passage, whenever the weather
permitted, in preparing what is called the "cutting-in gear," which
consists of the various tackles and ropes for securing the whales
alongside when caught and taking off the blubber. Then there was the
gear of the various boats, and it would astonish anyone to see the
enormous number of articles stowed away in a whale-boat when she starts
after a whale.

Everything was now got ready, as we were in expectation every day of
falling in with whales, and the men were on the look-out from the
mastheads from dawn until dark, in the hopes of seeing them. I longed
to see a whale caught, for as yet the voyage had been profitless, and
every one was out of spirits. The captain, who still remained perfectly
blind, notwithstanding the assurances of Dr Cockle that he would
recover, was so especially. He seemed like a heartbroken man; his
countenance gloomy, as if troubled with melancholy thoughts, and his
whole manner and appearance were changed. It was sad to see him come on
deck and stand, sometimes for an hour together, turning his face round,
as if he were picturing to himself the sparkling ocean, the blue sky
overhead, and the busy scene which the deck of his ship presented.

I observed that Mr Griffiths never gave an order if he could help it
while the blind captain was on deck. The health of the latter, however,
by degrees improved, the colour returned to his cheeks, and his voice,
when he spoke, again had the ring in it which I had from the first
remarked.

Day after day, however, we sailed on without seeing a whale. At length
one day, soon after noon, the first mate having just taken an
observation, and the captain being in his cabin, we were cheered by the
cry from the masthead of--

"There she spouts! There she spouts!"

The loud tramping of the men on deck roused those below, who quickly
sprang up, eager to engage in the expected chase.

Among the first who appeared was the captain, who ran up the
companion-ladder wit