"In fact, Dick," replied Captain Hull, "there is no longer any doubt possible!
It is a jubarte which floats on the surface of these red waters."
"That's fine," cried little Jack.
"Yes, my boy! and when we think that the great beast is there, in process of breakfasting, and little suspecting that the whalers are watching it."
"I would dare to affirm that it is a jubarte of great size," observed Dick Sand.
"Truly," replied Captain Hull, who was gradually becoming more excited.
"I think it is at least seventy feet long!"
"Good!" added the boatswain.
"Half a dozen whales of that size would suffice to fill a ship as large as ours!"
"Yes, that would be sufficient," replied Captain Hull, who mounted on the bowsprit to see better.
"And with this one," added the boatswain, "we should take on board in a few hours the half of the two hundred barrels of oil which we lack."
"Yes!—truly—yes!" murmured Captain Hull.
"That is true," continued Dick Sand; "but it is sometimes a hard matter to attack those enormous jubartes!"
"Very hard, very hard!" returned Captain Hull.
"Those baloenopters have formidable tails, which must not be approached without distrust.
The strongest pirogue would not resist a well-given blow.
But, then, the profit is worth the trouble!"
"Bah!" said one of the sailors, "a fine jubarte is all the same a fine capture!"
"And profitable!" replied another.
"It would be a pity not to salute this one on the way!"
It was evident that these brave sailors were growing excited in looking at the whale.
It was a whole cargo of barrels of oil that was floating within reach of their hands.
To hear them, without doubt there was nothing more to be done, except to stow those barrels in the "Pilgrim's" hold to complete her lading.
Some of the sailors, mounted on the ratlines of the fore-shrouds, uttered longing cries.
Captain Hull, who no longer spoke, was in a dilemma.
There was something there, like an irresistible magnet, which attracted the
"Pilgrim" and all her crew.
"Mama, mama!" then cried little Jack,
"I should like to have the whale, to see how it is made."
"Ah! you wish to have this whale, my boy?
Ah! why not, my friends?" replied Captain Hull, finally yielding to his secret desire.
"Our additional fishermen are lacking, it is true, but we alone——"
"Yes! yes!" cried the sailors, with a single voice.
"This will not be the first time that I have followed the trade of harpooner," added Captain Hull, "and you will see if I still know how to throw the harpoon!"
"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" responded the crew. * * * * *
CHAPTER VII.
PREPARATIONS.
It will be understood that the sight of this prodigious mammifer was necessary to produce such excitement on board the
"Pilgrim."
The whale, which floated in the middle of the red waters, appeared enormous.
To capture it, and thus complete the cargo, that was very tempting.
Could fishermen let such an occasion escape them?
However, Mrs. Weldon believed she ought to ask Captain Hull if it was not dangerous for his men and for him to attack a whale under those circumstances.
"No, Mrs. Weldon," replied Captain Hull.
"More than once it has been my lot to hunt the whale with a single boat, and I have always finished by taking possession of it.
I repeat it, there is no danger for us, nor, consequently, for yourself."
Mrs. Weldon, reassured, did not persist.
Captain Hull at once made his preparations for capturing the jubarte.
He knew by experience that the pursuit of that baloenopter was not free from difficulties, and he wished to parry all.
What rendered this capture less easy was that the schooner's crew could only work by means of a single boat, while the "Pilgrim" possessed a long-boat, placed on its stocks between the mainmast and the mizzen-mast, besides three whale-boats, of which two were suspended on the larboard and starboard pegs, and the third aft, outside the crown-work.