Dan'l leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "I've nothing against Silva," he said quietly. "He's a good man. The best man in the crew, I'm thinking.... But....
"The man I have in mind is Roy Kilcup. No less."
Noll's eyes widened; and old Tichel snapped: "He's never been in a boat."
"I know the boy," Dan'l insisted. "I'll undertake to teach him all he needs know in a week. He knows boats; he has guts and heart.... All he needs to know is whales...."
"Aye," said Willis Cox scornfully. "Aye, that's all. But who does know them?"
Dan'l smiled. "You might well enough ask, Mr. Cox."
Willis flushed painfully. "He's just a kid," he protested.
"You were almost three months older when you struck your first whale, if I mind right," said Dan'l pleasantly.
Big Noll Wing interrupted harshly: "That's enough. Silva and Roy. Who would you have, Mr. Cox?"
"Only one man aboard," said Willis.