ARCTIC ZOOLOGY. 123 



very short space of time is sufficient to bring them to 

 the spot. The whale, on the first rising, seeing no enemy 

 near, and not apprehending danger, is apt to repose a 

 considerable time at the surface, apparently " stretched 

 out o'er many a rood," and the boats are meantime ad- 

 vancing to the place. " Give way" is then the word 

 with which the rowers urge their speed, and the harpooner, 

 with desperate and determined energy, buries his weapon 

 in the animal's body. This is mostly followed by a moment's 

 awful pause ; the whale, upon feeling the smart of the barb, 

 trembles for an instant in his posture, darts precipitately 

 forward, or sinks by an unaccountable effort with the sud- 

 denness of so much lead. If the harpoon remain fast, 

 the line continuing to run with immeasurable velocity, the 

 flag of the boat is displayed in token of success, when all 

 in the boats within sight of the transaction, and those on 

 board the ship, join in a wild irregular cry of " A fall, a 

 fall,"* and a flag is immediately run up to the mizen mast 

 head to proclaim the vessel's good fortune. 



In the mean while the other boats are dispatched to 

 aid in the capture, and no sooner does the animal rise 

 again, than the next harpooner secures him by a second 

 wound, and so follow as many as they can, until by mul- 

 tiplied efforts to escape, compelled so repeatedly to rise 



* The cry of " A fall, a fall," seems to be expressive of having taken a 

 whale, the Dutch in their jargonous language giving it origin. 



R 2 



