"

"The only whaling I know about," remarked Jo, "was what I used to get
in school."

"You would get some more of the same kind now," remarked Jim briefly,
"if I could spare the time."

"Now, you have to spare the rod," replied the irrepressible and
irresponsible Jo. He ducked quickly as Jim hit at him, but there was
no time for further discipline or discussion, so Jo escaped the
merited punishment that was due him.

The boat was lowered, and the harpoon with its apparently endless
coil of rope, was made ready. All this was done under the careful
instruction of Captain Kerns, who knew the business of whaling
thoroughly, and was determined that the venturesome boys should not be
entirely helpless through ignorance. As for the harpoon, that was the
property originally of the former owner of the _Sea Eagle_, Captain
Bill Broom, of interesting memory. What pleasure he would have felt to
see the Frontier Boys start out on their perilous expedition, sure
that the whales would wreak vengeance upon the daring boys who had
finally given him such a bitter defeat!

Everything was now ready, and the selected crew was prepared to pull
away from the ship. They were delaying only for a few last words and
instructions. Nor was the crew of the boat made up exactly as the
reader might imagine, for Tom was left aboard and Jeems Howell was
taken in his place.

There were two reasons for this. In the first place, Jeems, though
lanky and thin, was really very strong and could do better work at
the oars than Tom; the other reason had to do with an incident that
happened in the attack the boys had made on a sand cone in the crater
of Haleakala, the said cone being defended by a number of savages.

Tom had at that time failed to protect Jim when he was attacking the
savages, due to nervousness, and Jeems had to come to the rescue. I do
not know whether he appreciated the distinction of being chosen on
this particular occasion or not, but he had to accept the honor thus
thrust upon him.

"Good-bye, Tom," cried Jim; "I'll leave you my blessing, if the whale
takes a chaw out of us."

"I'd rather you would leave me something valuable like your gold
watch," replied the mercenary Tom.

"I'll make you my sole heir, Tommy," cried Jo. "I've got some debts
back home that you can have." Then the boat pulled away from the ship.

"Don't forget, lads," roared the captain in farewell, "that whales
ain't fools because they are big. Look out for