198 WHALE-FISHERY. 



iioe of ice. Assistance being promptly afforded, a 

 second boat's lines were attached to those of the 

 fast-boat; in a few minutes after the harpoon was 

 discharged. The remainder of the boats proceeded 

 to some distance, in the direction the fish seemed to 

 have taken. In about a quarter of an hour the fast- 

 boat, to my surprise, again made a signal for lines. 

 As the ship was then within five minutes sail, we 

 instantly steered towards the boat, with the view of 

 affording assistance, by means of a spare boat we 

 still retained on board. Before we reached the 

 place, however, we observed four oars displayed in 

 signal order, which, by their number, indicated a 

 most urgent necessity for assistance. Two or three 

 men were, at the same time, seated close by the stern, 

 which was considerably elevated, for the purpose of 

 keeping it down, — while the bow of the boat, by the 

 force of the line, was drawn down to the level of the 

 sea,— and the harpooner, by the friction of the line 

 round the bollard, was enveloped in smoky ob- 

 scurity. At length, when the ship was scarcely 

 100 yards distant, we perceived preparations for 

 quitting the boat. The sailors' 2?ea-jackets were cast 

 upon the adjoining ice, — the oars were thrown 

 down,-— the crew leaped overboard, — the bow of 

 of the boat was buried in the water, — the stern rose 

 perpendicular, and then majestically disappeared. 

 The harpooner having caused the end of the line 

 lo be fastened to the iron ring at the boat 5 s stern, was 



