10. CHAPTER X.
THEY ARRANGE THEIR CANOPIES AND LOUNGES, AND TRY TO
MAKE THINGS COMFORTABLE.
Our little craft was soon in good order. From the spare
rigging brought along, we made shrouds to the mast, and
converted the boat-hook into a handy boom for the jib.
Going large before the wind, we set this sail wing-and-wing
with the main-sail. The latter, in accordance with the
customary rig of whale-boats, was worked with a sprit and
sheet. It could be furled or set in an instant. The bags
of bread we stowed away in the covered space about the
loggerhead, a useless appurtenance now, and therefore removed.
At night, Jarl used it for a pillow; saying, that
when the boat rolled it gave easy play to his head. The
precious breaker we lashed firmly amidships; thereby much
improving our sailing.
Now, previous to leaving the ship, we had seen to it
well, that our craft was supplied with all those equipments,
with which, by the regulations of the fishery, a whale-boat
is constantly provided: night and day, afloat or suspended.
Hanging along our gunwales inside, were six harpoons, three
lances, and a blubber-spade; all keen as razors, and sheathed
with leather. Besides these, we had three waifs, a couple
of two-gallon water-kegs, several bailers, the boat-hatchet
for cutting the whale-line, two auxiliary knives for the like
purpose, and several minor articles, also employed in hunting
the leviathan. The line and line-tub, however, were on
ship-board.
And here it may be mentioned, that to prevent the strain
upon the boat when suspended to the ship's side, the heavy
whale-line, over two hundred fathoms in length, and something
more than an inch in diameter, when not in use is
kept on ship-board, coiled away like an endless snake in its
tub. But this tub is always in readiness to be launched
into the boat. Now, having no use for the line belonging
to our craft, we had purposely left it behind.
But well had we marked that by far the most important
item of a whale-boat's furniture was snugly secured in its
place. This was the water-tight keg, at both ends firmly
headed, containing a small compass, tinder-box and flint,
candles, and a score or two of biscuit. This keg is an invariable
precaution against what so frequently occurs in
pursuing the sperm whale—prolonged absence from the
ship, losing sight of her, or never seeing her more, till years
after you reach home again. In this same keg of ours
seemed coopered up life and death, at least so seemed it to
honest Jarl. No sooner had we got clear from the Arcturion,
than dropping his oar for an instant, he clutched at it
in the dark.
And when day at last came, we knocked out the head of
the keg with the little hammer and chisel, always attached
to it for that purpose, and removed the compass, that glistened
to us like a human eye. Then filling up the vacancy
with biscuit, we again made all tight, driving down the
hoops till they would budge no more.
At first we were puzzled to fix our compass. But at last
the Skyeman out knife, and cutting a round hole in the aftermost
thwart, or seat of the boat, there inserted the little
brass case containing the needle.
Over the stern of the boat, with some old canvas which
my Viking's forethought had provided, we spread a rude sort
of awning, or rather counterpane. This, however, proved
but little or no protection from the glare of the sun; for the
management of the main-sail forbade any considerable elevation
of the shelter. And when the breeze was fresh, we
were fain to strike it altogether; for the wind being from
aft, and getting underneath the canvas, almost lifted the
light boat's stern into the air, vexing the counterpane as if
it were a petticoat turning a gusty corner. But when a
mere breath rippled the sea, and the sun was fiery hot, it
was most pleasant to lounge in this shady asylum. It was
like being transferred from the roast to cool in the cupboard.
And Jarl, much the toughest fowl of the two, out of an
abundant kindness for his comrade, during the day voluntarily
remained exposed at the helm, almost two hours to my
one. No lady-like scruples had he, the old Viking, about
marring his complexion, which already was more than
bronzed. Over the ordinary tanning of the sailor, he seemed
masked by a visor of japanning, dotted all over with freckles,
so intensely yellow, and symmetrically circular, that they
seemed scorched there by a burning glass.
In the tragico-comico moods which at times overtook me,
I used to look upon the brown Skyeman with humorous
complacency. If we fall in with cannibals, thought I, then,
ready-roasted Norseman that thou art, shall I survive to
mourn thee; at least, during the period I revolve upon the
spit.
But of such a fate, it needs hardly be said, we had no
apprehension.
