The party on the whale’s back stood watching the sail; but instead, however, of it coming directly towards them, as they had expected it would do, it was seen, when about a mile off, to be steering a course on which it would pass them scarcely nearer than it then was. Walter seized the flag out of the whale’s back and waved it over his head, shouting at the top of his voice, as did the mate and Nub, to attract attention; but apparently they were not seen, and certainly could not have been heard.
“It is more than I can make out, what they are about,” observed Walter. “They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that’s a boat or a raft, it’s surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us. They seem to have a pretty stiff breeze out there, and it would not have taken them much out of their way.”
“I am sure that it is a raft,” said the mate, “as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing. Depend on it, those are the Champion’s people, and they have got some reason for not wishing to communicate with us. I am pretty sure they fancy that this whale was killed by the captain, and that, not finding the ship, he returned to it. I may be wrong, but I think I am not much out in my calculations.”
“But suppose you are wrong, and my father is on board the raft, could not we shove off and overtake it?”
“As it is almost dead to windward, we should not have the slightest chance of doing so; and see! they are still holding their course. If they had wished to communicate with us, they would have lowered their sail; and they must see the smoke of the fire, even should they not make out the flag,—though they could scarcely have failed to do that.”
“I tink I could swim much faster dan our raft could pull against de wind,” said Nub; “supposing de captain on board, den I tell him dat Massa Walter and Missie Alice on de whale, and he sure to come.”
“You had better not make the attempt, Nub,” said the mate. “You will have a long swim before you can reach the raft; and if you fail to do so, you will be exhausted before you can possibly get back.”
“Neber fear, Mr Shobbrok,” he answered. “If I get tired I can rest on one of dose casks, or perhaps I find some spar or piece of timber which keep me up;” and before the mate or Walter could stop him, Nub had slipped off into the sea on the opposite side to that to which the raft was secured, so that Alice did not see him. Nub struck out boldly, and made rapid way. The mate and Walter stood watching him.
“That black is indeed a first-rate swimmer,” observed the mate. “Heaven protect the brave fellow.”
Nub, however, had not got more than two or three cable’s lengths from the whale when he was seen to turn, while he furiously beat the water with his hands and feet, at the same time shouting out loudly.