2^(T WHALE-FISHERT. 



directed the course of the ship towards the place 

 where he had last seen them, and about 8 a. m. he 

 got sight of a boat which displayed the signal for 

 being Jrist. Some time afterwards, he observed the 

 other boat approach the fish, a second harpoon 

 struck, and the usual signal displayed. As, how- 

 ever, the fish dragged the two boats away with consi- 

 derable speed, it was mid-day before any assistance 

 could reach them. Two more harpoons were then 

 struck, — but such was the vigour of the whale, that 

 although it constantly dragged through the water 

 four to six boats, together with a length of 1600 

 fathoms of line, v4iich it had drawn out of the differ- 

 ent boats, yet it pursued its flight nearly as fast as a 

 boat could row ; and such was the terror that it ma- 

 nifested on the approach of its enemies, that when- 

 ever a boat passed beyond its tail, it invariably di- 

 ved. All tlieir endeavours to lance it were therefore 

 in vain. The crews of the loose boats being unable to 

 keep pace with the fish, caught hold of and moored 

 themselves to the fast-boats, and for some hours af- 

 terwards, all hands were constrained to sit in idle 

 impatience, waiting for some relaxation in the speed 

 of the whale. Its most general course had hitherto 

 been to windward, but a favourable change taking 

 place, enabled the ship, which had previously been 

 at a great distance, to join the boats at 8 p. m. 

 They succeeded in taking one of the lines to the 

 ship, which was fast to the fish, witli a view of re- 



