Among the first who appeared was the captain, who ran up the companion-ladder with as much agility as he had ever displayed.
“Where away—where away?” he asked.
The men pointed to windward, and to our surprise the captain turned his eyes in the same direction.
“Lower three boats,” he shouted. “I’ll go in one of them.”
Presently I saw a low, bush-like spout of white mist rise from the surface of the sea, not two miles off.
“There she spouts! There she spouts!” shouted the captain, showing that he saw too.
With wonderful rapidity, as everything was prepared, the boats were lowered. The doctor had come on deck.
“Where are you going, Captain Hawkins?” he asked, in an astonished tone.
“In chase of those whales out there,” answered the captain; “for, doctor, I can see them as well as you do.”