The Two Whalers; or, Adventures in the Pacific, by W.H.G. Kingston.
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Jack is a young teenager, who is being prepared for the sea. He lives in
Deal, a busy port in East Kent, and several well-found boats with good
skippers hail from there. After attending a nautical college, and
obtaining first prize there, he goes to sea with Captain Hake in the
"Eagle". He has already met Medley, another apprentice in the same
vessel.
They have difficulty getting out of the Thames Estuary and into the
Channel, on account of the weather, but eventually they reach southern
latitudes where again they have difficulty in rounding Cape Horn and
getting into the Pacific. Here begin a series of difficulties despite
which they manage to catch some whales, and boil down the blubber, for
its oil. The difficulties include weather, mutineers, pirates, and
separation of whaling boats from the mother ship.
Eventually of course all problems are overcome, and they return to
England, no doubt to go back to sea again soon after.
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