The bulkhead was too thick for us to hear what he said; but whatever it was it affected the hunters strongly, for the cheering was followed by loud exclamations and shouts of joy.
From the sounds on deck I knew that the sailors had been routed out and were preparing to lower the boats.

Maud Brewster accompanied me on deck, but I left her at the break of the poop, where she might watch the scene and not be in it.

The sailors must have learned whatever project was on hand, and the vim and snap they put into their work attested their enthusiasm.

The hunters came trooping on deck with shot-guns and ammunition-boxes, and, most unusual, their rifles.

The latter were rarely taken in the boats, for a seal shot at long range with a rifle invariably sank before a boat could reach it.