The Mutiny on the Athol

The life on a whaler is a series of feverish activities, working day and night after the whale has been caught, followed by spells of leisure cruising around awaiting the word “There she blows.” During the period of stripping the carcass, bailing the precious spermacetti from the case, mincing, boiling down, and filling the casks, the hands and brains of all aboard are too fully occupied to give even a thought to anything but their labors. But when there is nothing to occupy one's mind and little more for the hands, the mischief makers, who are usually found on every ship, then get to work and stir up trouble.