We were all excited, and as we pulled for our ship there was general regret that we knew so little of the great conflict, and that it would be many months before we should know more. The vessels kept near each other that night—what night there was. At about six bells Captain Gates came aboard, and some of us were anticipating a nice gam with the men who brought him in the boat, when Lakeum came to me and said, “The captain wants you in the cabin.” What did it mean? I had no right in that part of the ship unless summoned; and, indeed, I had not been in the cabin since the voyage began. Was I supposed to be guilty of some offense, and was I to appear before the captain as a criminal appears before a judge? I entered with mingled fear and anticipation, and received from Captain Gamans the curt statement, “I sent for you because you’re a good penman, as I’ve seen from your handwriting in the logbook. And you’ve had a better education than most of us, even if you are a boy. We shall want you in a few minutes. Sit down there until we are ready, and keep quiet.” I complied, but my heart was with the visitors on deck, and I listened listlessly to the rambling conversation of the captains. The only subject of any interest to me was the reference to their going in the boats, and this ended the colloquy. “How many times have you been in the boat, Gates?” asked our captain. “Three times.” “What luck?” “None, twice—third time, uncertain. And you, Gamans?” “Three times.” “What luck?” “None, twice—third time, uncertain.” Both men saw the joke and laughed heartily. Captain Gamans fumbled about and brought out some letter paper, a small bottle of ink, which had not been opened, and an aged penholder to which was attached a rusty pen. I dug out the cork of the bottle with a knife, and then the two captains began their dictation. There was little difference in their view of the situation and in their respective claims to the whale. The trouble seemed to be their inability to express themselves in proper English, and I was quite proud when they relied on me, occasionally, to supply a word and straighten out their sentences, although, by their manner, they seemed to regard me, all the time, as an inferior. To shorten the story, the agreement, in its final form was as follows: