THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



25? 



close to their sterns. The orders were instantly 

 obeyed, for in a second of time both boat-steerers 

 stood in the bows of their respective boats, with 

 their harpoons held above their heads ready for the 

 dart ; but they both panted to be a few yards nearer 

 to the Whale, to do so with success. The monster 

 plunged through the main quickly, but the boats 

 gained upon him every moment, when the agitation 

 of all parties became intense, and a general cry of 

 'Dart! dart!' broke from the hindermost boats, 

 who each urged their friends, fearful of delay. The 

 uproar became excessive, and while the tumult of 

 voices, and the working and splashing of the oars, 

 rolled along the surface of the deep, both the har- 

 pooners darted their weapons together, which, if 

 they had both struck the Whale, would have origin- 

 ated a contention between them, regarding their 

 claims. But, as it happened, neither of them had 

 that good fortune ; for, at the moment of their 

 darting the harpoons, the Whale descended like a 

 shot, and avoided their infliction, leaving nothing 

 but a white and green-looking vortex in the disturbed 

 blue Ocean, to mark the spot where his monstrous 

 form so lately floated. A general huzza burst from 

 the stern most boats, when they saw the issue of this 

 chase, thinking, now, that another chance awaited 

 them on the next rising of the Whale, and they soon 

 began to separate themselves a little, and to row 

 onwards again in the course which they thought he 

 had taken. Our captain, feeling irritated at the ill- 

 success of the mate, now ordered his own boat to 

 be lowered, intending to make one in the chase him- 



.17 y2 



