Page 99
Wow he hasn’t moved from those bulwarks for 3 1/2 months…..
↓ Transcript
Panel 1 [Open with Lawrence’s logbook, showing the date around 2 1/2 months later. The word balloon is overlaid his handwriting]
LAWRENCE’S WRITING:
February 24th, 1844
Over three months in with no whales sighted yet, tho the Captain says we’ve reached the ‘cruising grounds.’ The waters are warmer but look no different, the same old blue as anything. That is, til we see what the whalermen call ‘white water’.
Panel 2 [Lawrence is in his same old spot on the bulwarks with his journal. Ezra's beside him, leaning on the bulwarks as well. Lawrence looks thoughtful, tapping his chin with his pencil]
EZRA:
So, is whalin’ all you thought it’d be?
LAWRENCE:
I feel I can’t fully know until we come up against a whale. Does it usually take this long to sight one?
Panel 3 [Closer shot of Ezra speaking]
EZRA:
All depends. Captain goes to the places he had luck in seasons’ before, we sail ‘round, we hope for the best. Can’t really track ‘em under all that ocean though.
Panel 5 [Shot from behind the two of them as they look out at the horizon. The sun is starting to sink down to the sea.]
EZRA:
You just gotta look to the horizon and keep your eye out for spouts. Right whales got two goin’ up in different directions. Blackfish, goes up straight—we don’t much lower for those unless things are bad.
Panel 6 [Ezra holds up a hand with two fingers extended, angling them at a 45º angle]
EZRA:
And sperm whales got one spout that comes out from the water like this. That’s the one we really wanna see.
LAWRENCE’S WRITING:
February 24th, 1844
Over three months in with no whales sighted yet, tho the Captain says we’ve reached the ‘cruising grounds.’ The waters are warmer but look no different, the same old blue as anything. That is, til we see what the whalermen call ‘white water’.
Panel 2 [Lawrence is in his same old spot on the bulwarks with his journal. Ezra's beside him, leaning on the bulwarks as well. Lawrence looks thoughtful, tapping his chin with his pencil]
EZRA:
So, is whalin’ all you thought it’d be?
LAWRENCE:
I feel I can’t fully know until we come up against a whale. Does it usually take this long to sight one?
Panel 3 [Closer shot of Ezra speaking]
EZRA:
All depends. Captain goes to the places he had luck in seasons’ before, we sail ‘round, we hope for the best. Can’t really track ‘em under all that ocean though.
Panel 5 [Shot from behind the two of them as they look out at the horizon. The sun is starting to sink down to the sea.]
EZRA:
You just gotta look to the horizon and keep your eye out for spouts. Right whales got two goin’ up in different directions. Blackfish, goes up straight—we don’t much lower for those unless things are bad.
Panel 6 [Ezra holds up a hand with two fingers extended, angling them at a 45º angle]
EZRA:
And sperm whales got one spout that comes out from the water like this. That’s the one we really wanna see.
There aren’t that many spots where you’re not in the way of someone trying to do a job, I’d guess he found a good one and stayed with it.
Odd he isn’t being put to work at something but even if you’re between watches you can still stand lookout, especially if there’s a bonus for the first one to spy a whale.
Existence on a whaleship, barring foul weather, repairs, hunting, cutting in, or trying out, were exercises in extreme monotony. After the initial large scope of ship’s duty readying the boats in preparation for the hunt, upon reaching the cruising grounds it was pretty much hanging around hoping to see something (which was the job of whoever was up at the mast heads serving as lookouts), and occasionally breaking out and going through provisions as needed. Whaling was 70% extreme boredom and sitting around, and 30% life threatening terror.
Like military life today, 99% of the time routine maintenance and ‘make work’ projects and 1% pure mayhem 😉