directness. Like all Chinamen, Hoang was true to his promises,
and he had already set apart three and a half barrels of
spermaceti, ten barrels of oil, and some twenty pounds of bone as
the schooner's share in the transaction. There was no discussion
over the matter. He called their attention to the discharge of
his obligations, and hurried away to summon his men aboard and get
the junk under way again.

The beach-combers returned to their junk, and Wilbur and Moran set
about cutting the carcass of the whale adrift. They found it
would be easier to cut away the hide from around the hooks and
loops of the tackle than to unfasten the tackle itself.

"The knots are jammed hard as steel," declared Moran. "Hand up
that cutting-in spade; stand by with the other and cut loose at
the same time as I do, so we can ease off the strain on these
lines at the same time. Ready there, cut!" Moran set free the
hook in the loop of black skin in a couple of strokes, but Wilbur
was more clumsy; the skin resisted. He struck at it sharply with
the heavy spade; the blade hit the iron hook, glanced off, and
opened a large slit in the carcass below the head. A gush of
entrails started from the slit, and Moran swore under her breath.

"Ease away, quick there! You'll have the mast out of her next--
steady! Hold your spade--what's that?"

Wilbur had nerved himself against the dreadful stench he expected
would issue from the putrid monster, but he was surprised to note
a pungent, sweet, and spicy odor that all at once made thick the
air about him. It was an aromatic smell, stronger than that of