This observation gave rise to discussion, and the expression of views showed a woful ignorance of geography. Kreelman seemed to have the best grasp of the situation.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “this coast of Japan ground, as they call it, stretches over an awful distance. It runs clear down pretty near to the Caroline Islands. That’s south, and I shouldn’t be surprised if we touched there for supplies before we go north again. A man who cruised in this ocean and was once on this ground told me all about it.”
“There ain’t no danger from savages round here, is there?” asked one of the men.
“No danger in these days,” replied Kreelman. “In old days occasionally a whaler in this ocean was never heard from. Some thought shipwreck, some thought cuttlefish and some thought savages. I don’t know. I don’t believe there will ever be again such a case as the _Sharon’s_. That was twenty years ago. One of the men who was on board told me about it years ago.”
The sea was quite tranquil, we were sailing freely and there was silence. I knew that all Kreelman wanted was encouragement.
“I have heard of that case,” I observed. “It was in 1842.”
“Well, readin’ ain’t always knowin’. When you hear a thing from a man who’s been there it’s first hand, and, when you get it out of a book, it’s second hand.”
“Well,” I observed, “you had no objection, not long ago, to listen to stories I took from books.”
Kreelman made no reply and on his own invitation told the story in his quaint way.
“Well, you see, this _Sharon_ touched at an island where a number of the crew deserted, and she put to sea with only seventeen men all told. One day two boats were lowered for whales, and the captain, a Portuguese boy and three natives of the Kingsmill group of islands was left on board. They took a whale and the ship bore down and took him alongside, and then they trimmed the sails to prevent her forgin’ ahead. The boats were now after other whales.
“Soon the signal flag of the ship at half-mast informed those in the boats that there was trouble on board and they put for the ship. When within hailin’ distance the boy, who was in the riggin’, called out that the natives had killed the captain and had control of the ship. One of the natives shook a cuttin’-spade at the men in the boats. Then he said somethin’ in his own language to the fourth native who was in one of the boats. They thought that he asked him to jump overboard and swim to the ship, but the man in the boat shook his head. Then the fellow on deck threw the cook’s axe and he aimed so good that the man in the boat only saved himself by dodgin’ it.