fluke-chains were passed, to give us a couple of hours' rest. As
cressets were prepared, and by their blaze we toiled the whole
us foremast hands had nearly such heavy work as the officers on
skill; but it was also terribly hard work, constant and
between the lifting of the pieces. Even the skipper took a hand,
stripped of their blubber.html">blubber, and five heads were bobbing astern at
wonderful sight. There must have been thousands of sharks.html">sharks
phosphorescent water wove a dazzling network of brilliant tracks
for breakfast, which was greatly needed, and, thanks to the cook,
fishing, as we drifted slowly, with savoury pieces of whale-beef
gladdened the heart of an epicure. Our hunger appeased, it was
fierce heat soon acts upon the carcass of a dead whale,
wonderfully short space of time, turns the flesh putrid and
it could, would it be of any value. So it was no wonder that our
himself condescended to take his place among the toilers. By
toll as the hungry hordes of sharks had levied upon it in
rapacity with their lives, for often one would wriggle his way
of blubber, strive with might and main to tear it away. Then the
jaws, and with one flap of his big tail he would loose his grip,
his fellows, by whom he was speedily reduced into digestible
chaos. From the cabin door to the tryworks there was hardly an
continually baling it up, lest it should leak out through the
became necessary to divide the crew.html">crew into six-hour watches, as
weather, there were evident signs that some of the crew were
good effects of it were soon apparent. The work went on with
.
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