ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTES. S91 



tardiiig its flight. They then furled the top-gallant- 

 sails, and lowered the top-sails ; but after supporting 

 the ship a few minutes, head to wind, the wither of 

 the hai-jioon iqjscf, or twisted aside, and the instru- 

 ment was disengaged from its grasp. The whale im- 

 mediately set off to mndward with increased speed, 

 and it required an interval of three hours before the 

 ship could again approach it. Another line was 

 then taken on board, which immediately broke. 

 A fifth harpoon had previously been struck, to re- 

 place the one which was pulled out, but the line 

 attached to it was soon afterwards cut. They then 

 instituted various schemes for arresting the speed 

 of the fish, which occupied their close attention near- 

 ly twelve hours. But its velocity was yet such, that 

 the master, wlio had himself proceeded to the attack, 

 was unable to approach sufiiciently near to strike a 

 harpoon. After a long chase, however, he succeed- 

 ed in getting hold of one of the lines which the 

 fish dragged after it, and of fastening another line 

 to it. The fish then fortunately turned towards the 

 ship, which was at a considerable distance to lee- 

 ward. At 4 p. M. of the 30th, 36 hours after the 

 fish was struck, the ship again joined the boats ; 

 when, by a successful manoeuvre, they secured two 

 of the fast-hnes on board. The wind blowing a 

 moderately brisk breeze, the top-gallant sails were 

 taken in, the courses hauled up, and the top-sails 

 clewed down ; but notwitiistanding the resistance 

 a ship tlnis situated must necessarily offer, she was 



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