84 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



upon the nearest ice, and then leap into the sea ; after 

 which the boat rose into the air, and, making a majestic 

 curve, disappeared beneath the waters, with all the 

 line attached to it. The crew were saved. A vigorous 

 pursuit was immediately commenced; and the whale, 

 being traced through narrow and intricate channels, was 

 discovered considerably to the eastward, when three 

 harpoons were darted at him. The lines of two other 

 boats were then sent out, when, by an accidental en- 

 tanglement, they broke, and enabled the whale to carry 

 off in all about four miles of rope, which, with the boat, 

 were valued at 150Z. The daring whalers again gave 

 chace ; the whale was seen, but missed. A third time 

 it appeared, and was reached ; two more harpoons were 

 struck, and the animal, being well plied with lances, 

 became completely exhausted and yielded to its fate. 

 By this time it had drawn out 10,440 yards, or 31,320 

 feet, making altogether about six miles of line. Un- 

 luckily, through the disengagement of a harpoon, a boat 

 and thirteen lines (nearly two miles in length) were 

 never recovered. 



Occasionally the whalers meet with agreeable surprises. 

 The crew of the ship Nautilus had captured a whale, 

 which being disentangled and drawn to the ship, some 

 of them were employed to haul in the line. Suddenly 

 they felt it pulled away, as if by another whale, and, 

 having made signals for more line, were soon satisfied, 

 by the continued movements, that this was the case. 

 At length a large one rose close to them, and was quickly 

 killed. It then proved that the animal, while moving 

 through the waters, had received the rope into its open 

 mouth, and, struck by the unusual sensation, held it fast 

 between its jaws, and thus easily became the prey of its 

 enemy. The ship Prince of Brazils, of Hull, struck a 



