This expression of Kreelman’s views was not encouraging.
“How did you like the day on shore?” I inquired.
“A great day for sailors. The old man done himself noble in giving us shore leave, and the Pitcairn folks done themselves proud in entertainin’ us. It was somethin’ like one of them nice, little places in a hot land. You know what I mean.”
Kreelman looked at me, appealingly. “I think you mean an oasis in the desert,” I volunteered.
“That’s it, Fancy Chest, an oyster, only not in the desert, but in the ocean.”
The man mused, then broke out, “You heard Lakeum give that talk. There ain’t no man among edicated men who could have done better. I’ve been on the sea about all my life and I never see before a man on board a whaler like that man. You never hear no bad language and he acts different from the other men. He treats the men well, but he don’t allow no nonsense. And then he carries himself well. He’s got an edication, and he come from first-class folks, but, as I told you long ago, you can’t find out nothin’ about him. I guess, if all whalers was made up of men like him, they’d be better places to live in.”
CHAPTER XVI
HOMEWARD BOUND
We saw no whales as we went south, and we approached the Strait of Magellan under what seemed to be favorable auspices. The weather was fair, the sea was tranquil and the scenery was picturesque. The strait is three hundred and sixty miles in length, and from five to thirty miles in breadth. Patagonia is to the north, and the island of Tierra del Fuego to the south. As we entered the strait and, for a good many miles as we proceeded, we saw lofty ranges covered with snow and immense glaciers, and between them patches which looked like dark forests. The third day the weather changed, and navigation became more difficult. The fog set in and, though we had seen no vessels, the captain deemed it wise to be cautious, and we made only about three or four knots an hour. In the late afternoon the fog lifted, and the captain made for the shore of Tierra del Fuego. The sea became more boisterous, the sky assumed a threatening aspect, and the captain gave orders to throw the lead. When four fathoms was reported, he gave orders to heave to, to take in sail and put out two anchors. In the meantime the sky grew blacker, and we all worked with a will to have the ship snugged up and ready when the storm broke.
The sea became more boisterous, and the captain gave orders to throw the lead.