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74 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. CHAPTER VIII. A CATASTROPHE. EXPERIENCED whaleman as he was, Captaîn HuU knew the difficulty of the task he had undertaken ; he was alîve to the importance of making his approach to the whale from the lecward, so that there should bc no sound to apprize the créature of the proximity of the boat. He had perfect confidence în his boatswain, and felt sure that he would take the proper course to însure a favourable resuit to the enterprîse. "We mustn't show ourselves too soon, Howîck," he said. " Certaînly not/* replied Howick ; " I am going to skîrt the edge of the discoloured watcr, and I shall take good care to get well to leeward.'* " Ail right," the captain answered ; and turning to the crew said, " now, my lads, as quietly as you can.*' Mufflîng the sound of thcîr oars by placing straw in the rowlocks, and avoiding the Icast unneccssary noise, the men skilfully propellcd the boat along the outline of the water tinged by the crustacea, so that while the starboard oars still dipped in the grecn and limpid sea, the larboard were in the deep-dyed waves, and secmcd as though they were dripping with blood. "Wine on this side, water on that/* said one of the sailors jocosely. " But neither of them fit to drink," rejoîned the captain sharply ; " so just hold your tongue ! " Under Howfck's guidance iVie boat tov ^Udcd stealthily