"The best thing you could have done," remarked Dickey. "Whatever you
do, Harry, don't turn Methodist. I cannot say that I admire old Tom,
and do not want you to become like him. To my mind he is a dull, stiff
old fellow, with a very good opinion of himself, and I have never felt
inclined to be intimate with him."

"I did not at first; but he seemed so anxious to help me, and to put me
up to all sorts of things, that I could not help liking him, though I
own that I would rather he did not talk to me about religion. The next
time he does so I shall try to get him to change the subject."

"Of course you must," said Dickey Bass. "It's all very well for parsons
and ministers, but an old boat-steerer has no business to trouble one
with such things. Why, I only yesterday heard him lecturing Rob Burton
there, the merriest, happiest fellow in the ship;" and he pointed to a
fine, active-looking young seaman at work on the other side of the deck.
"I have a notion that he was talking to him about his soul and death,
as if he was not likely to live as long as any one on board, and longer
too than most of the old hands. Why should he put melancholy thoughts
into his head, and take the pluck out of him?"

"I suppose he thought Rob Burton careless about religious matters, and
wanted to get him to read his good books and tracts," observed Harry.
"Old Tom means well, at all events."

"He may mean well, but for my part I don't like those well-meaning
fellows," answered Dickey. "If I catch him lecturing you I will join
in, and we will soon put a stop to his preaching."

The thoughtless lads talked on for some time in the same strain, till
any good effect which the conversation Tom Hayes had held with Harry
might have produced on him was completely eradicated.

They were interrupted by a startling cry from the masthead, so welcome
to a whaler's ears, of "There she spouts!" and in a moment the crew,
hitherto so lethargic, were aroused into action. Some flew to the
falls, to lower a couple of boats, others sprang up the shrouds, to
observe the position of the whale; and soon afterwards the boats, of
which the first and second mates had the command, shoved off from the
ship's side. Another cry came of "There again!" indicating that the
whale had once more come to the surface, and was spouting. The monster
was at no great distance. Mr Gibson, the first mate, took the lead,
pulling the bow oar of his boat, that he might be re