The fire in his eyes would light up the dial and keep him right." For several days our navigation went on in unbroken monotony, without a single incident, and under favourable conditions.

The spring season was advancing, and whales began to make their appearance in large numbers.
In these waters a week would suffice for ships of heavy tonnage to fill their casks with the precious oil.

Thus the new men of the crew, and especially the Americans, did not conceal their regret for the captain's indifference in the presence of so many animals worth their weight in gold, and more abundant than they had ever seen whales at that period of the year.

The leading malcontent was Hearne, a sealing-master, to whom his companions were ready to listen.

He had found it easy to get the upper hand of the other sailors by his rough manner and the surly audacity that was expressed by his whole personality.