appeared in his manner and
conduct. After a time he laughed with the rest of us at a good joke,
and cheered as loud as the best when a big fish turned belly up, but his
behaviour to us became more gentle and kind, and he entirely gave up the
habit of swearing. He also forbade working on Sunday. Many a whale
have I seen sporting and spouting near us on that day, but never did we
lower a boat or touch a harpoon on Sunday. Some of the men grumbled at
this, and complained of it to each other, but they never spoke so as to
let the captain hear, and they soon gave up their grumbling, for the
most of us were well pleased with the change, and all of us had agreed
to it.

The first Sunday after Fred's death, the captain assembled the crew on
the quarter-deck, and spoke to us about it.

"My lads," said he, "I've called you aft to make a proposal that may
perhaps surprise some of you. Up to this time, you know very well,
there has been little difference aboard this ship between Saturday and
Sunday. Since our poor shipmate died I have been thinkin' much on this
matter, and I've come to the conclusion that we shall rest from all work
on Sunday, except such as must be done to work the ship. Now, lads, you
know me well enough by this time. I have never been a religious man all
my life, and I don't pretend to say that I'm one now. I'm not very
learned on this matter, and can't explain myself very well; but what
think you, lads, shall we give the whales a rest on Sundays?"

We all agreed to this at once, for the effect of the captain's speech
was great upon us. It was not so much what he said, as the way in which
he said it. He was by nature a bold, determined man, who never flinched
from danger or duty, and when we heard him talking in that way we could
scarcely believe our ears.

This was all that was said about the matter between us and the captain,
but we had many a hot discussion in the forecastle amongst ourselves
after that. Some were in favour of the new move, and said, stoutly,
that the captain was a sensible fellow. Others said he was becoming an
old wife, and that no luck would follow the ship. In the course of
time, however, we found the benefit of the change in every way; and the
grumblers were silenced, because in spite of their wise shakings of the
head, we filled the ship with oil as full as she could hold, much sooner
than we had expected.

Shoregoing people have but little notion of the ease with wh