CHAPTER VI
OUTWARD BOUND
Upon the morning after the Pelican stood out of the Lion's Gate and headed southward, she was outside Cape Flattery and standing off to the northwest, bucking and pitching and leaning over under a stiff blow from the westward.
Captain Pontifex, although on this cruise he carried no third mate, adhered to the custom of whaling skippers and stood no watches himself except at times of necessity. On this fine morning, however, he was on the quarter-deck, talking with black Manuel Mendez. The steward approached them gingerly, for he was rather seasick.
"Well?" snapped the skipper. "How are they? Do they know we're at sea?"
"Yes, sir, they seem to, sir," returned the Cockney. "Mr. Dennis is wery sick, sir. The lady, sir, is not."
"Taking care of him, is she?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, steward, you give them my compliments, and say that I expect them to appear in the saloon cabin at four bells sharp."
"Yes, sir."
"And, steward! You might ask the Missus for a bit of raw blubber. Eat it raw, steward, and it'll cure what's ailing you. fat whale blubber——"