Indeed, all navigation in those seas to sailing vessels is dangerous, and requires the greatest care.  Often we were obliged at a minute’s notice to let go the anchor, although out of sight of land, some rapid current being found carrying us swiftly towards a shoal or race, where we might come to grief.  Yet there was no fuss or hurry, the same leisurely old system was continued, and worked as well as ever.  But it was not apparent why we were threading the tortuous and difficult waters of the Indian Archipelago.  No whales of any kind were seen for at least a month, although, from our leisurely mode of sailing, it was evident that they were looked for.

An occasional native craft came alongside, desirous of bartering fish, which we did not want, being able to catch all we needed as readily almost as they were.  Fruit and vegetables we could not get at such distances from land, for the small canoes that lie in wait for passing ships do not of course venture far from home.

*

CHAPTER XIII

OFF TO THE JAPAN GROUNDS

Very tedious and trying was our passage northward, although every effort was made by the skipper to expedite it.  Nothing of advantage to our cargo was seen for a long time, which, although apparently what was to be expected, did not improve Captain Slocum’s temper.  But, to the surprise of all, when we had arrived off the beautiful island of Hong Kong, to which we approached closely, we “raised” a grand sperm whale.

Many fishing-junks were in sight, busily plying their trade, and at any other time we should have been much interested in the quaint and cunning devices by which the patient, wily Chinaman succeeds so admirably as a fisherman.  Our own fishing, for the time being, absorbed all our attention—­the more, perhaps, that we had for so long been unable to do anything in that line.  After the usual preliminaries, we were successful in getting fast to the great creature, who immediately showed fight.  So skilful and wary did he prove that Captain Slocum, growing impatient at our manoeuvring with no result, himself took the field, arriving on the scene with the air of one who comes to see and conquer without more delay.  He brought with him a weapon which I have not hitherto mentioned, because none of the harpooners could be induced to use it, and consequently it had not been much in evidence.  Theoretically, it was as ideal tool for such work, its chief drawback being its cumbrousness.  It was known as “Pierce’s darting gun,” being a combination of bomb-gun and harpoon, capable of being darted at the whale like a plain harpoon.  Its construction was simple; indeed, the patent was a very old one.  A tube of brass, thickening towards the butt, at which was a square chamber firmly welded to a socket for receiving the pole, formed the gun itself.  Within the chamber aforesaid a nipple protruded from the base of the tube, and in line with