The mates and boatsteerers officiate at the try-pots, {95} and handle the long-handled, long-shanked devil-forks, or the skimmers, or the copper dippers. They began with the head-matter, for reasons which I have given. When this was cooked enough, it was ladled out of the try-pots with the long-handled copper dippers that I have mentioned, and into the copper cooling-tank which stood beside the try-pots. From the cooling-tank the oil overflows into a huge iron pot. From this, in turn, it is again dipped, and put into casks, or barrels, marked “Head” or “Case” or “Junk.” I did not see this last operation at this time, however. My duties lay mostly in the cabin and the steerage, with the officers and boatsteerers, and I had to go when I was called, or before if I had sense enough for it. I was expected to be on hand at meal times, or a little before, and help the steward. It was now about supper-time, and I was so interested in the process of trying-out that the steward had to send for me, or come for me, which did not improve his temper. I am afraid that I skimped my duties much of the time, but a boy of fifteen has no great sense of responsibility. Captain Nelson was indulgent to me up to a certain point, but he had to give me a wigging more than once. I deserved the wigging, and I knew it well, and was always respectful and very repentant. The captain usually ended by laughing and bidding me mind my eye, which I was quite willing to do, and I always promised faithfully that I would. And then there would come the next time, which was generally due to my great interest in something which I was seeing for the first time, perhaps. I have no doubt that that fact was taken into account in Captain Nelson’s distribution of justice. He was a just man. It was dark when I got back on deck. Trying-out goes on steadily, day and night, until it is done. A trying-out watch is trying in more senses than one. Each watch consists of half the crew, who are on duty for a longer time {96} on end than usual. It is hard labor, and in a long siege of trying-out, the men get so tired and dazed and sleepy that they move in a drowse, and they will fall asleep anywhere. It is in this state that the man will nap standing at the wheel, and the man on the royal yard also, the thin stay in the hollow of his shoulders, and an arm hooked in the running rigging.