THE THOUSANDTH WHALE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1832, 17 April 1907, Page 6

THE THOUSANDTH WHALE.

(By J. J. Bell.)

Upon the moderate swell rolling into the ice-formed bay from the open Arctic Sea the Thorgrim lay and swung in a sullen fashion, her ninety feet of dingy-green huli dipping into the gray water till the scuppers gurgled. Across her narrow deck the clammy mist was blown like smoke, while the bitter wind drew long-sustained tenor notes from her slim ochre funnel. To starboard, the shape of a small berg, perhaps thirty feet in height at its highest point, was dimly visible, and Sigurd, the mate in the steering-box of the Thorgrim, found no other object as lie slowly turned his keen eyes round the limited circle which the fog left to them. Yot less than five hundred yards away rose the sound of breakers, the rhythmic crash of the surf against the edge of the ice, the moaning echo from the icy waste that stretched through scores of miles to Greenland. The moaning echo is a weird thing, but Sigurd the mato was used to it. He listened for nigh a minute, then sharply jerked the cord of the fog-horn. iS —s —poop ! cried the horn shortly, and the ice gave back echoes innumerable. Almost immediately the captain appeared at the door of the tiny deckhouse above the cabin, and made his way to the steering-box. He received his mate’s report, verified it by listening for himself, anu nodded. The mate took the wheel, and called down the speaking-tube to the engineer. Fer five minutes the Thorgrim moved slowly ahead, then came to rest and resumed her rolling. “Tell Ove to take your place, and oomo yo\i to the cabin,” said the captain as he descended the perpendicular steps to the deck. “Tell Hansen to bring coffee,” ho added. “We shall soon have work to do. The weather will clear within an hour.” “In an hour, kaptan!” exclaimed the mate, sirring • but the other was already entering the deck-house. The time was two o’clock on the last aftern-on of August, and the Thor, grim had lain in and cautiously dodged about the ice-bay since the evening of the 23rd. Storm had forced her to seek that precarious shelter; fog had helped to imprison her there. She was about seventy miles north of the mouth of Isafjord, the groat indentation in the great north-west promontory of Iceland—so the captain guessed, and the mate hoped he was right The business of the Thorgrim and the eleven Norwegians on board her was to chase, kill, and capture finner-whales, and tow the carcases to the company’s station, with its flensing-slips and oil factory, in Isafjord. But the hunting season, which begins in mid-April or early in May, was now at its fag-end. Indeed, the 15th of August had seen its close so far as the majority of the competing companies were concerned. When Sigurd the mate came ifirto the cabin, which was heated to v a high temperature by the almost;; redhot stove, he flung himself without a word on the port locker, loosened his

muffler, set his pipe going, and began to read a Norsk illustrated journal, ragged and stained and four months old. Kaptan Svendsen did not like to be disturbed when he was playing “patience,” for he gained inspiration as well as mere amusement from his well-thumbed pack of cards. Now his strong, steady hand laid down card after card, while his fine-gray eyes—under their heavy, almost white, brows —watched each one as if for some important development. Presently Sigurd threw aside the journal, every word of which he had read twenty times, and began to watch also, resting his forearms on the edge of tho small triangular table, with its pegholes for use in rough weather. A puff of cold air rushed into the * cabin, and the cook came cautiously down the steep and narrow stair bearing a tray. “Coffee, kaptan,” he said, handing a large mug lxalf-filled with the fluid to tho card player. “Tak!” briefly returned the old man. —“Sigurd!” he said without looking up. The mate took the mug, laid it within reach of the captain’s hand, and secured it on the table with four wooden pegs which lie found on the ledgo of the bunk at his back. -Then ho took in turn his own mug, a basin of sugar, and a tin of condensed milk from the tray, pegging each to the swaying table. “Biscuits,” murmured the captain, holding out an impatient hand. “The fine biscuits are finished, kaptan. I'have nothing but these,” said Hansen, laying a wooden bowl of ordinary ship’s biscuits on the table. “What?” “We have been at the sea twelve days. It is not usual, replied Hansen sulkily. “The milk also is finished — all but what is in that tin. There is also but little beef left, and you cannot have any more sweet soup—nothing but brown bean, and the beans also will soon bo done.” But Kaptan bvendsen had gone back to his cards. “It is all right, Hansen,” he said pleasantly, without looking up. “We shall bo at the station in time for dinner to-morrow. It will be clear weather in less than one hour.” T.lio cook took his own mug of coffee and a biscuit, and seated himself on the locker beside the mate. “So kaptan?” he said. “But if we leave in an hour we shall bo at the station in time for breakfast.” He spoke as if tho captain required to be humoured. “For breakfast, kaptan,” ho repeated. Sigurd nudged him to be silent. The old man appeared to be making a calculation from the rows of cards in front of him. At last he looked up and bundled the cards together, laughing as he did so. Ho put sugar in his coffee, added milk from the jagged hole punched in tho top edge of the tin, and took a long draught of tho almost cool mixture. “For dinner, Hansen,” he said quietly. “The Thorgrim will have a whale in tow.” “Kaptan,” said Hansen, respectfully enough, “wo saw no whales all the four days before we came into the ioe. Are not all the whales gone south by now ? Besides, it is ill weather for hunting. And—and the food grows scarce. Ten—eleven days—it is unusual. I—l was not warned.” Sigurd nudged him admoniskingly; but Kaptan Svendsen took his cook’s remarks calmlj T . “You have food for all for eight days yet, according to the rules of the company,” ho said. “Have you not?” Hansen began to stammer. He had known that this w r as to be the last trip of the season. He had been led to underastand, also, that it was to be a run to the ice and back, only one day to be allowed for looking for whales. He had considered one-half of tho usual stores more than sufficient. He said a great deal more, but all to the same effect. The old man let him finish. “So!” he said, and. turned to the mate: “Sigurd, go on deck, and bring mo word of the weather.” “Ja, kaptan,” answered Sigurd, and, knotting his muffler, left the cabin. “Hansen,” said the captain, gazing earnestly at the sullen middle-aged man opposite him, “do you sail on a whale-steamer next year?” “Unless anybody prevents me,” muttered Hansen. ' “I will not prevent you, but I require your promise—your oath—that you will never again break the rules of the company. You promise? You swear ? Good! I know you will not fail again.”

•**l am sorry, kapian,” murmured p Hlio cook, honest .regret .in his voice and expression. ‘®K6t'is /finished,/Haneen. iW© -speak of it no more. It is our last trip together.” “All! You do not -come again to • lea!and, kaptan?” “Nej. I retire,’ 5 answered the old man, smiling, hi -stay at home with my children and granehiiclron in San. defjord. I kill no more whales -but one. 'One /more. My—-- Ylell, Si-. -gurdP” . mate -entered, ‘beaming. ‘One "weather .clears, HJse 'wind falls, kapHah!” # . :Svendse:i nodded with a .pleased air. hi -.shall soon kill my last whale—my Hhousancifeth whale ! Mayho be a great hull—-a -king blaa-hval ! 55 "A'thousand whales!’;’ gasped the cook. I . ... “Nine hundred and ninety-nine have T hilled tfor my company.’ 5 said the-bld man proudly. “Shall I go home Ho rest and -tell my grandchildren of my .life .before I kill the thousandeth— Sigurd—Hansen ?” Ho hold out his groat hand. / / .Sigurd shook it, laughing. '“The; glory will bo mine also, kaptan. I have told you so before. 55 i- Ali, ‘yes, you knew it wa-s to be . tho thousandeth whale this trip, miy Sigurd. But you, -Hansen—you will wish mo Tuck?” 'But the cook smote his hand on the table and cursed himself. What if;his. . .-carelessness in the matter-or provisions should force a return to tiro station ere the thousandeth whale could be captured'? . J “Have -I not bold .you that I will kill mv whale’before night?” said the .old -man,-still holding out .his hand. Shamefacedly, Hansen took it. 1 /have ipleiity lof iflour. T will bake extra bread .now, 55 . he muttered as he rose- ... _k you llike, Hansen-—if you like. But it will not be required. 55 ; , For a 'moment the veook ilooked .at the; mate. Then bo -saluted the captain and left ;the ..cabin. “Let ms go ion ; deck, 55 said Svendsem five 'minutes .later. “You -and I will load 'the gun. ; Do you get forward the new haipbon 'that we todk on board last week. I will *ndt use an old one; - on my Hhousandetk whale. 55 The -wind had dropped, .and .the sun u already piercing the mist, Which was hhinniag—isoi-irapidly . Hhat per and fihebfcs of -ice icadne unto view lrke?; objects ?on :a photographic plate in the - .develop in g-bath. - The r .crew appeared on deck smiling ; but "the smil-es-vanr,;, /ished when they saw Hie preparations' ... for loading Hie gun. /They had count-/ - ed oh a-quick run back to Tsafjord. ■ Kaptan /fondling a oorttoai/ bag 'uemtaihing about a kilogramme of powder, nodded pleasantly as he passed them on /his way to the bows. To two of -them be -gave instructions: to remove The Haupaulins from the powerful double-winch immediately! nhaft sßhe fforeintet, ;»nd to #sae fihat; Hfo* -madhinery was ;in -perfeGt working; order. ■ _ • Sigurd ’-was already waiting &n the! ffoot-high platform in -the bows beside the ishotrt, fihick-sOt, scarlet-painted j j cannon, the horrible harpoon on his! : left shoulder, a ramrod and a /supply! ' df wads -in bis right hand. d£aptan; Hvondaen examined the 'harpoon—every , * inch'.of _its five^£odt.«slotted in which ran the ring fqri carrying the: . fcsible;; *eadh bno} pf the Sourbingod barbs, mow; /d^ing;gainst .the shaft,. hut ready to open umbrella-w/is© with-/ jjti ..tho - yintim. /So tfiarXlpi® was v lthout a .point. * 7,1 5

'The captain 'expressed 'hrtr.self '•sat-] isfied, and Sigurd laid the hundred-; weight of metal .on .the platform. Then' the gun was uncovered and unlashed, and slewed round on its pivot for loading. -Lastly, Sigurd went below, Ho, return speedily, bearing something re/ sembliirg -a torpedo in-shape, but about twelve >inches /in dength, rand -.sharpmosed. This .was screwed -.on to the’ oend .of the harpoon, mow projecting /from Hho gun’s muzzle; and ■■the' harpoon nvas complete—pointed .with a bomb -that would - explode -shortly after striking. :M -.four o’clock the Thorgrim left her .-refuge, dodging Hhe larger frag-, ments of half-rotten dee, 'shouldering aside the smaller. Outside Hhe bay, and ;for several ;miles from Hhe rioesheet, ;ice-pans from one to .a hundred square yards in extent heaved on Hire. ;sbill; heavy -swell, their surfaoes; gleam-! ing white, -‘.their, -sides glowing sapphire above Hho water-line, .and pale,/ cold green just below ;it. The wavetops were brilliant ..in .the .-sunshine,: and at .every, plunge great clouds of spray burst .oyer Hhe .Thorgri-iris bows,/ battering Hhe canvas -shelter -of .the steering-box, -rattling/and hissing upon, tbo funnel, iand flooding the deck to Hho very i stern. Old -Svendsen ‘laughed ;aloud ?ns be ..guided Hhe little steamer among tho pans southward. vOv-e, the s-Seond-mate, who was steering, caught Hho hifuutioui of Him high spirits and name-out of his .sulky -siienoe. “Tho sea falls, kaptan, 55 he .remarked cheerfully. “We.have luck with -us.” •Sigurd, ,-ra.uffled ito Hlie'/.eyes, his. bands' .in heavy, woollen, -fingerless /gloves, was already in the long, nar-. row barrel djigh up on Hhe foremast. No - eyes but his -.could be trusted to detect Hhe -rising .or ‘-spouting 5 / -.of . a tinner on;that tumbling expanse. "While, ho had little hope of seeing another pearly-gray ‘-‘spout’ 5 rising from Hhe water that season, despite his captains confidence and enthusiasm, he yet. searched the surface of .the sea as he had never searched .it before. 'For surely the thousandeth whale would be a very' great thing for the old man to tell of to his children and .grand-. children. And even ns’ho thought of it, behold ! two miles distant, a column of watery vapour lose twenty 'feet in .the air, and as it began to drift away there appeared .above tlie surface, moving leisurely westward, a rounded, glistening, dark object—the back of a whale, .it sank. Sigurd turned in tho crmv’s ;nest. and roared “Hval.!” at the. steeringbox, following up tho word with directions to tho steersman. Then his eyes 'went back to tlie soa. Almost - immediately the whale earner up again, showing first the crown of. :his head, which was submerged ere the back • appeared. Ho sounded as if melting into the water, only to reappear three minutes later. At each .of these risings ho blew,, but not so heavily as on bis first appearance.. Then ho went down once more, and Sigurd did not' expect to see him again for fifteen or twenty minutes. But he had judged his course, and already ill© Thorgrim was doing "her. twelve 'knots .anil executing a flanking movement. iS'vendsen had taken .liis stand on the gunr-platform, and was ; making final tests of bis bearings upon which the weapon rested. Ho smoked in an. unemotional fashion. “Kaptan!” The old man looked up. ■Sigurd was grinning over the edge of the barrel. “It is the thousandeth whale!” he cried. “And it is as you desired —a blaa-bval, sure!—a great bJ.aa-hval!—a solitary—a bull!” “So! 55 said Ivaptan Svendsen contentedly. The cook canro forward ana saluted apologetically. “Well, Hansen, how goes the balking? 55 inquired Svendsen merrily. “I oome to wish .you !good luck, kaptan, 55 said the other. “Also, there is little coffee -and no sugar for the men. T —l am afraid of some of Hhe man, kaptan/’ “Are .-you afraid to tell them that there is no sugar, and that there is -also ten kroner for each man from ;my;»©lf- tidaen we reach "the ' station ? - I ask .you to toll the men that, Hansen/” ... Hansen’s. reply was incoherent, “Tell the '.men, also,” said Hhe old .man, “that yonder is my thousandth whale. They will understand and have patience, with their kaptan. <3<o now, /Hansen.” Hansen obeyed, and having told tho .men, retired to the .galley and resumed Hho manufacture of bread as if : his life depended on turning out so ‘.many loaves -ere nightfall. Ho was fhahking of all tire whales hie had seen ©scape. The whale rose again, but he /had quickened his pace during his submerfSion, and appeared farther west Hhan the maito /had anticipated. The course :of Hhe TOhorgrim was altered, and the enginieeflr managed to cram another /half-hnot on to her speed, whereat her excited -quivOTing was increased to frantic quaking, and the waves hurst heavily ever her bows, drenching‘Bvend,a©n to Hho waist. Tt was no weather for hunting, thought Bigurd as he desoribed great irregular arcs- in "the air, 'hut one coiild 'not ©spect Ho choose ;the weather when fortune had sent the Thousandth Wih&T©.

An ;and still the ■ ‘blua 5 / nneonsciouily dodged bis pursuers,. Changing bis course of speed, so thatj once Signrd .thought. him lost,, and‘five, minutes later beheld him in such a’, position that the Thorgrim must haveactually passed .over him. Moreover,/ it was a race with' time, ‘for tlie / light would soon be /failing, and ‘Sigurd! smelt snow. The captain kept his stand on the bow-platform, his drowned .pipe in his’ teeth, his face with spray. From time to time Hansen brought .him dry gloves, /for a numbed finger at tho critical momeilt might mean a bad shot. The men attending the winches stood stolidly at their posts, thinking perhaps of the Hi -kroner which each would receive, and—perhaps not so selfishly—©f the old man' and his thousandeth whale. Suddenly Sigurd shouted and pointed. “The “blue” was rising not a hundred yards away on the port ‘bow. The wind dissipated Hhe Cloud of vapour from his "blow-liole as his head went down and ’liis enormous back/ .heaved up amid tlie waves, Slid forward, and was submerged. Already;' the .captain’s left hand had shot up, ■and the steersman ’had called to the engineer for “dead slow.” The course was altered ever so little, and the Thorgrim moved slowly forward, and then lay .wallowing, awaiting the second rising of the “blue.” Captain Svendsen’s gloves were.gone; liis big hand gripped the :short stock’ of the gun; his forefinger was crooked on tlio trigger. His pipe was still between his teeth. And then, not five yards distant,. and almost straight ahead, with ;a snorting, hissing sound, the head 'of tho “blue” broke the .surface. Two seconds later the gunner let .fly, aimpjr—if that were possible in such a sea—for the most nital region six to" ten feet behind the flipper. A whale stricken nearer the tail may give trouble for many hours. So tlie gun crashed out its dreadfulbolt, and tho monstrous tail of the “blue” rose high in the air, fell, and disappeared in a boiling whirlpool. And almost- at the same instant Kaplan Svendsen turned on his heel in tlie smoke, signed to tho men to clap the brakes on tho winch, and .left the platform. Without a look to right or left ho walked swiftly aft. Sigurd came down from his perch, his face set, and took charge. He had seen the harpoon glance across the “blue’s” back and olunge into the sea fifty feet beyond, the bomb bursting like a silly rocket. Somehow he had never dreamed of the captain missing liis thousandth whale —-not even in a hurricane. In silence the men hauled .the cable and spent harpoon on board, while Sigurd saw .that the gun was covered and lashed in position. On his way to the cabin he looked into the galley. Hansen was sitting with his face in, his floury hand, weeping. “Bring coffee,” said ‘Sigurd quietly, and passed on. He found the old man playing “patience,” and sat down -without speaking. Presently, with his eyes on the cards, tho captain said casually, “If the weather does not change, we shall be at /Isafjord .for dinner to-morrow.” “Ja, kaptan.” Svendsen laid out another ;row of cards, and. Sigurd picked up his tatztered journal. “The .course is sou’-sou’-east,” remarked the captain after a silence. “Order full speed now. I will come on deck soon.” The mate left the cabin. At the top of the stair he met the cook. Twenty minutes later the twain, accompanied by the engineer, entered Hhe cabin. The old man was still fingering his cards. “Why have you not- ordered full speed?” he asked. Then, noticing the engineer, “Is any thing .wrong?” The .engineer shook his head. “The engines are all right,” he said, “and there is coal for twenty-four /hours.” “Kaptan,” said Sigurd, “the men say That they do not wish to return to the station yet. And we say it also. 55 ‘fl —;I do not understand,” -said the .old man, staring ■ at a. ragged queen. . “Ah, -kaptan, kaptan,” cried the cook, his voice fluttering, “your thousandth whale—you; must , .'have it -yet;' kaptan.” H The cards dropped from Hhe old man’s fingers. ) “So!”/he said very softly ._ “ 4 I ,go to bring coffee,” said Hansen /abruptly, /and /fled from the cabin. “So!” murmured the captain again, and a pleased smile came to liis Tips. Hut Hhe smile faded. “Tho /risk is too '.great,” he said gravely. The (engineer spoke. “If /the Thor<grim does -not reach Hhe station 'tomorrow they will send the other wha?ler -or the -big steamer to look -for us. •ft is quite safe.” '“And When would they find us, my Glaf? In -many days perhaiJs.” “Hansen has bread for about four bays,” put in Sigurd. “We are sail 'content* with bi*ead!” “But if /the bad weather /comes, and we have to wait in the ice ?” ' “Let us hunt for one day more, lcapHan.” -< : ( The old ’man wavered. The temptation was very strong. IT' /• c “I will sneak "to Hhfe inen. ’ /he ‘said-,

at last, /rising and .gathering up his cards methodically . _ Ere Hhe long twilight ended in black .■night the Thorgrim was onoe -more idly rolling in an ice bay, waiting for another ichanoo. And that chance, thanks to a grievous change in the weather, -was full .three days in coming. , “They will be searching forms -now,” said the men one to another, and scanned Hhe" sea anxiously, for bread and water is depressing diet within the Arctic Circle. During the fourth night the wind died, and early the following morning the Thorgrim left the ice for comparatively : calm water. The captain went into the steering-hex to relieve the .mate. . “Turn in, Sigurd,” he said. There will be nothing to do on deck. Hansen will give you the last cup of coffee. I thought it was finished, but the found enough for two more cups this morning. He is like a baby, is Hansen.. 5 “I do not need coffee. I will turn in there,” the mate replied, pointing to the crow’s nest. Svendsen lifted a protesting hand, “It is no use —no use,” he said sadly. “We go as straight as we can to ths station. We shall all be starving when we get there. May the fog-keep away!” , , . Sigurd descended to the deck. As if it were an afterthought, he remarked, “I will look out for the steamer and the other whaler,” and went* forward. “That,” said the old man, “is a wise thought, Sigurd. 55 He gave a direction to the steersman, and sat down in the cornea" of "the box, gazing listlessly ahead. But Sigurd, in -the crow’s .nest, kept his eyes on the near waters. * >* '■* At midday the sun came forth, and ; Svendsen took its altitude, and worked out the Thorgrim’s positibin. He was about forty miles farther from home than he had guessed. The discovery r t /i | toyed rather than, farmed him, . ana ,ne was about to ■summon mate from the masthead when tne latter threw up his arms with an exultant yell: “Hval! Hval!” . Tm less than a minute the old man was oh the' platform uncovering and unlashing the gun. To his/surprise, it was already unloaded. He beard Sigurd’s -laugh, and ’he looked up and laughed in return, “My good iSigurd!” Hansen, loolang like a ghost, tpeeped 'from the galley, and "the men Hook their places by the -winches. The whale rose again, and Sigurd yelled that Tie was bigger than the on© which had -©scaped. The hungry men at the winches grinned. They were used to whalelhunting-; but thisKaptan Svendsen set his pipe going. He was himself again. He fondled his gun. A/t Sigurd’s direction, -the steersman bad sent the Thorgrim right, about, and she was now running before the -smooth -haves. *on (board "excitement jgave 'Vhy to patience. The captain called Hansen, and despatched him to a locker in the cabin, there to bind a -tin of cocoa—the last food bn the Thorgrim. “A mug /for ©very' 'mean,* said the captain*

About two o’clock the whaler had keen manoeuvred to within striking distance of the whale. The “blue” rose on the starboard bow, sank, rose again nearer, sank, and finally rose so close under the Thorgrim that the gun when fired was tilted at an angle of fortyfive degrees. The cable flashed over the bow Wheel for thirty seconds; then its speed • slackened, and the brakes were gradually applied to the winch until it stopped running. The cable between the winch and the how-wheel was rigid as steel, but the Thorgrim moved not. Her nose was deep in the water and her propeller showed a dry blade. Heath hung deep in the sea at the end of the cable; no wounded life struggled there. The shot had been a sure one. •A hundred tons, perhaps, of living matter "had plunged madly for the depth, and plunging, had died, heart and lungs wrecked by the exploding shell. . Three hours were occupied m hoisting the carcase to the surface, lashing it alongside, cutting the mighty flukes from the tail, and inflating the body with air pumped by the engine through a hollow lance. Then a chain was rove through and around the tail-stump, and the carcass was cast astern, attached to the Thorgrim by thirty fathoms of a twelve-inch hawser. Already hundreds of sea birds were screeching above the dead, while Greenland sharks took their toll beneath. “Full speed 1” oried the captain down the tube, and immediately the homeward run began. But the old man’s triumph flickered out. . He went down to the cabin, after summoning ffche engineer. “How many hours’ ooal have you now?” he asked. ‘Fourteen and a half, kaptan,” answered Olaf, who had just been figuring it out. “And we are about twelve hours from the station.” ‘T-Srood 1” said the engineer. “Twelve hours going at full speed, Ooaf.” “I have full speed now, kaptan.’ “Jia. Your engine is doing full speed, hut the Thorgrim is doing little more than half. It is the whale ” The engineer’s face fell. The mate looked out of his bunk. “We are farther from the station than you thought, kaptan,” said he. “I meant to tell you, Sigurd,” returned Svendsen, “but the whale came. When the whale came I forget everything else. I was foolish to take the whale, and now I must let it go. It is no use. . We cannot take the whale to the station. . Let it go now, and do you take charge, Sigurd.” " “But, kaptan” began the mate. “I say it is no use,” interrupted Svendsen. “Do as I tell you—new. Leave me. I am tired. I am an old man, and an old fool. I have been risking my men and my ship for my own conceit. I tell you that, Sigurd; and you also, Olaf. I tlxank you and every one for standing by this silly old man, but I will take no more risks. Go now. I would sleep. It is long since I have slept well.” “I beg to know what distance we are from the station, kaptan,” said the engineer respectfully from the doocrway. Svendsen told him shortly, and waved him and the mate away. In a little while the Thorgrim stopped, and the old man in his bunk heard the tramping of feet above him. . “They are casting off my thousandth whale,” he said to himself. “So!” And soon with sheer weariness he fell asleep. • * - * Sigurd the mate stood in the crow’s nest. It was growing dark, and the wind was bitter though the sea was calm. Sigurd had been up there for four hours, which is a long spell for a well-fed man. For the third time he sent for the engineer, who for the third time came to the foot of the mast. “How long now, Olaf?” “One hour—no more, Sigurd?” “Kaptan is still sleeping?” “Ja. Hansen watches him. Wonderful Hansen! He has discovered one more cup of cocoa for - ..the kaptan! "‘ "It is. cold up there?” ' •; ... ,• 3 ... . “But no else has your sight. ~ I will tell you when the time is up.” The engineer departed, shivering. Sigurd drew his muffler over his mouth and resumed his search. The stars came out, and a fine, dry snow drifted down. It soon ceased, but Sigurd knew there was much more to come ere long. . . The time, despite his miserable situation, passed all too quickly, and the engineers voice came up to him, saying, “The hour, has gone.” “Can. you. not allow half an hour longer, ?” - ' .“Nej.” ; : ‘ ' -“Quarter?” - “Nej, nej. We can do no more. “Then it must be,” said Sigurd, struggling with: his cramped limbs, and, taking a last look about him. a cry broke from him. ‘Quick, Olaf * The blue light! I am freezing . here. I cannot move yet. Fire the light, and.-help me afterwards.” *Soon the Thorgrim and. the sea i, around her were bathed in a ghastly glare. The engineer swarmed up the

rigging to assist the mat©, and even as he reached him an answering flare, small but certain, appeared away in the east. “It is the steamer!” yelled Sigurd. “Tell the kaptan. Do not wait.” Bu the engineer insisted that it was Sigurd’s du-y, and so five minutes later the latter staggered into the cabin where the old man was sleeping, watched by the cook. “Kaptan, the steamer comes. I have signalled her, and she has replied.” u So!” said Svendsen, getting up slowly. “If I had been sure of the steamer I would not” The cook could contain himself mo longer. ‘You have the whale still!” he cried. “Oh, -kaptan, you have your thousandth whale!” “Mutiny on my last trip!” said Captain Svendsen when he learned from Sigurd how his officers and crew had arranged, against his orders, to keep the whale in tow till the last possible moment. “Mutiny on my last trip!” But his eyes were kind. As the Thorgrim steamed to meet the rapidly approaching steamer the old man stood on the afterdeck peering at the huge, dim shape wallowing astern. Hansen approached. “The last of the coffee, kaptan,” he said respectfully, presenting a steaming mug. “Then you will da-ink it yourself, Hansen.” The cook protested. “I have now drunk the last of the coffee five times,” said Svendsen. “When did you taste coffee last?” he suddenly demanded. ‘Four days ago, kaptan. It is nothing” “So! Then you have saved your own coffee for me! Have you any more left?” Hansen looked guiltily miserable. “Enough for two mugs;” he stammered at last. “For me?” “Surely, kaptan.” “Then I drink this, and you will go now and take the two mugs yourself. The steamer will give us plenty soon. Now, go. No more mutiny.” The cook went, but halted half-way to the galley and retraced his steps. “Kaptan, you—you will soon be telling your children and grandchildren about your thousandth whale” “My thousandth whale,” said Kaptan Svendsetn, smiling reflectively. He laid his hand on the other’s shoulder. “Yes, it will be a fine story to tell. But I think, my good Hansen, the finest part of the fine story will be about my men on the Thorgrim.” And Hansen retired, rubbing his eyes, yet so pleased with all things that hie divided the last of the coffee between Sigurd and the engineer.— “Chambers’s Journal.”