Tuesday July 7th 1863

Today had light winds from six to twelve o’clock A.M.

I was at the Mast Head1 and sung out for Black skin.

And answer was returned from the Deck2 as they should have been3.

When the fish came up again sung out again twice or three times before any response was made, and then merely inquired how far off and what they were. I said I did not know. There was no more notice taken after.

1 Being “at the Mast Head” meant Duntlin was performing one of the most critical and skilled duties aboard a whaler. Sightings from the masthead were the trigger for lowering boats. His presence there establishes that he was on duty and responsible.

2 “The Deck” functions almost as an institutional voice—not a single person, but ship authority. His phrasing subtly distances himself from those who failed to act.

3 This phrase is faintly ironic. He is noting that the minimum response occurred—but nothing more. It implies procedural compliance without commitment.