76 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



ing in the line, when a storm suddenly arose, and caused 

 the vessel to drift away, and prevented her, notwith- 

 standing the utmost efforts, from ever coming within 

 reach of the unfortunate crews who composed the greater 

 part of the ship's company. Several casualties of this 

 nature are related by Captain Scoresby, which occurred 

 to his boat's companies, all of whom, however, in the 

 end, happily found their way back to the vessel. One 

 of the most alarming cases was that of fourteen men 

 who were left upon a small piece of floating ice, with a 

 boat wholly unable to withstand the surrounding tem- 

 pest ; but, amid their utmost despair, they fell in with 

 the Lively of Whitby, and were most cordially received 

 on board. 



The source, however, of the most constant alarm to 

 the whaler is connected with the movements of that 

 powerful animal, against which, with most unequal 

 strength, he ventures to contend. Generally, indeed, 

 the whale, notwithstanding his immense strength, is 

 gentle and even passive, seeking, even w r hen he is most 

 hotly pursued, to escape from his assailants, by plung- 

 ing into the lowest depth of the ocean. Sometimes, 

 however, he exerts his utmost force in violent and con- 

 vulsive struggles ; and every thing with which, when 

 thus enraged, he comes into collision, is dissipated or 

 destroyed in an instant. The Dutch writers mention 

 Jacques Vienkes of the Gort Moolen (the Barley Mill), 

 who, after a whale had been struck, was hastening with 

 a second boat to the support of the first. The whale, 

 however, rose, and with its head struck the boat so 

 furiously that it was shivered into pieces, and Vienkes 

 was thrown with its fragments on the back of the huge 

 animal. Even then, the bold mariner darted a second 

 harpoon into the body of his victim ; but unfortunately 



