Asa kicked the corner of his desk, watching his foot. “What else was there?”
“I’ve nothing in my mind,” said Joel, and shook his head. “But it sticks in me that Mark was no man to die easy. There was a full measure of life in him.”
Asa got up awkwardly, waved his hand. “We’re off the course, Joel. What about the Nathan Ross? Ready for sea, come Tuesday. I’m not one to press her on any man, unwilling. Say your say, man. Do you take her? Or no?”
Joel drew slowly once more upon his pipe. “If I take her,” he said, “we’ll work the Gilberts first of all, and try once again for a sign of my brother Mark.”
Asa jerked his head. “So you pick up any oil that comes your way, I’ve no objection,” he agreed. “Matter of fact, that’s the best thing to do. Mark may yet live.” His eyes snapped up to the others. “You take her, then?”
Joel nodded slowly. “I take her, sir,” he said. “With thanks to you.”
Asa banged his hand jubilantly on his desk. “That’s done. Now ...”
The two men sat down at Asa’s big desk again; and for an hour they were busy with matters that concerned the coming cruise. When a whaleship goes to sea, she goes for a three-year cruise; and save only the items of food and water, she carries with her everything she will need for that whole time, with an ample allowance to spare. She is a department store of the seas; for she works with iron and wood, with steel and bone, with fire and water and rope and sail. All these things she must have, and many more. And the lists of a whaleship’s stores are long and long, and take much checking. When they had considered these matters, Asa sent out to the pierhead to summon Jim Finch, and told the man that Joel would have the ship. Joel said to Finch slowly: “I’ve no mind to fight a grudge aboard my ship, sir. If you blame me for stepping into your shoes, Mr. Worthen will give you another berth.”
Finch shook his head. He was a big, laughing man with soft, fat cheeks. “No, sir,” he declared. “It’s yours, and welcome. Your brother was a man; and you’ve the look of another, sir.”
Joel frowned. He was uncomfortable; he had an angry feeling that Finch was too amiable. But he said no more, and Finch went back to the ship, and Asa and Joel continued with their task.