“But are you sure that we could not tire it out?”
“Quite, sir. I once went for a voyage, and pretty well know what whale-fishing is. Hail the deck now and tell the captain; there he is. He’s using his glass; I fancy he has made it out.”
At that moment the captain looked upward.
“Who’s aloft there?” he cried.
“I am, sir—Johannes!”
“There’s something out in the sunshine on the starboard bow; try if you can make it out.”
“We have, sir!” cried Steve; “it’s a large whale.”
“Hullo! you there?”
“Yes, sir. Are you going to try for it?”
“Hah! I can’t quite make it out from here. Eh? Try for it? No, my lad. We are not Greenland whale-fishers. Mind how you come down.”