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"Well, both mates are old hands at the business, and we intend that all
the 'ables' shall be as good men as you are yourself."
"It _needs_ good men, sir, to be operatin' among some of them
sea-elephants! Sea-dogs; for sea-dogs is my sayin'. They tell of seals
getting scurce; but I say, it's all in knowin' the business--'There's
young captain Gar'ner,' says I, 'that's fittin' out a schooner for some
onknown part of the world,' says I, 'maybe for the South Pole,
for-ti-know, or for some sich out-of-the-way hole; now he'll come back
_full_, or I'm no judge o' the business,' says I."
"Well, if this is your way of thinking, you have only to clap your name to
the articles, and take your lay."
"Ay, ay, sir; when I've seed my shipmates. There isn't the business under
the sun that so much needs that every man should be true, as the
sea-elephant trade. Smaller animals may be got along with, with a narvous
crew, perhaps; but when it comes to the raal old bulls, or bull-dogs, as a
body might better call 'em, give me stout hearts, as well as stout hands."
'Well, now, to my notion, Watson, it is less dangerous to take a
sea-elephant than to fasten to a regular old bull-whale, that may be has
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
had half a dozen irons in him already."
"Yes, sir, _that's_ sometimes skeary work, too; though I don't think so
much of a whale as I do of a sea-elephant, or of a sea-lion. 'Let me know
my shipmates,' say I, 'on a sealin' expedition.'"
"Captain Gar'ner," said the deacon, who necessarily overheard this
discourse, "you ought to know at once whether this man is to go in the
schooner or not. The mates believe he is, and may come across from the
main without a hand to take his place should he leave us. The thing should
be settled at once."
"I'm willing to come to tarms this minute," returned Watson, as boldly as
if he were perfectly sincere; "only let me understand what I undertake.
If I know'd to what islands the schooner was bound, it might make a
difference in my judgment."
This was a well-devised question of the spy's, though it failed of its
effect, in consequence of the deacon's great caution in not having yet
told his secret, even to the master of his craft. Had Gardiner known
exactly where he was about to go, the desire to secure a hand as valuable
as Watson might have drawn from him some imprudent revelation; but knowing
nothing himself, he was obliged to make the best answer he could.
"Going," he said; "why, we are going after seals, to be sure; and shall
look for them where they are most to be found. As experienced a hand as
yourself ought to know where that is."
"Ay, ay, sir," answered the fellow, laughing--"it's just neither here nor
there--that's all."
"Captain Gar'ner," interrupted the deacon, solemnly, "this is trifling,
and we must come to terms with this man, or write to Mr. Hazard to engage
another in his place. Come ashore, sir; I have business with you up at the
house."
The serious manner in which this was uttered took both the captain and the
man a little by surprise. As for the first, he went below to conceal his
good-looking throat beneath a black handkerchief, before he followed the
deacon where it was most probable he should meet with Mary. While he was
thus occupied, Watson came down out of the main-rigging and descended into
the forecastle. As the young captain was walking fast towards the dwelling
of Deacon Pratt, Watson came on deck again, and hailed Baiting Joe, who
was fishing at no great distance from the wharf. In a few minutes Watson
was in Joe's boat, bag and all--he had not brought a chest on board--and
was under way for the Harbour. From the Harbour he sailed the same
evening, in a whale-boat that was kept in readiness for him, carrying the
news over to Holmes's Hole that the Sea Lion, of Oyster Pond, would
certainly be ready to go out as early as the succeeding week. Although
Watson thus seemingly deserted his post, it was with a perfect
understanding with his real employers. He had need of a few days to make
his own preparations before he left the 41st degree of north latitude to
go as far south as a vessel could proceed. He did not, however, leave his
post entirely vacant. One of Deacon Pratt's neighbours had undertaken, for
a consideration, to let the progress of events be known, and tidings were
sent by every opportunity, reporting the movements of the schooner, and
the prospects of her getting to sea. These last were not quite as
flattering as Roswell Gardiner hoped and believed, the agents of the
Vineyard company having succeeded in getting away two of Hazard's best
men; and as reliable sealers were not to be picked up as easily as pebbles
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