Jimmy did not finish, but shook his head from side to side, so that first one black ear went into the puddle of water on the deck, then the other, while his lips parted in a tremendously long grin, which seemed to say, “Black fellow knows better than to do such a stupid thing as that.”
Then, as if made of india-rubber, Jimmy drew his heels in, gave a spring, and leaped to his feet, running to the side, and then throwing up his arms with delight.
“Dere um is, Mass Joe; turn up him under frontums like fis on hook an’ line.”
For there was the monster making an effort to keep in its normal position, as it swam slowly round and round, but always rolling back, and rising helplessly every time it tried to dive.
“Jimmy sorry for you,” cried the black. “Plenty good to eat like much muttons. Go down boat bring him board.”
“Well, I don’t know about good meat, blackee, but we may as well have his head to boil out his jaws,” said the captain, who was standing looking on, whale lance in hand.
“Go down and put him out of his misery, captain,” I said, “and take me too.”
“Oh! all right, my lad,” he said, laughing. “You may do the job if you like.”
“May I?”
“To be sure,” he said; and I jumped down into the boat, after he had lowered himself, bear fashion, on to one of the thwarts.