33'2 WHALE-FISIIEllV. 



of the shock witli which their bows met, they re- 

 bounded to a considerable distance. The officers, 

 at the same moment, discharged their harpoons, 

 but all of them fell short of the fish. A hardy 

 fellow, who was second mate of the leeward ship, im- 

 mediately leaped overboard, and with great dexterity 

 swam to the whale, seized it by the fin, and pro- 

 claimed it his prize. It was, however, so swoln, 

 that he was unable to climb upon it, but was o- 

 bliged to remain shivering in the water until assist- 

 ance should be sent. His captain, elated with his 

 good luck, forgot, or at least neglected, his brave 

 second mate ; and before he thought of sending a 

 boat to release him from his disagreeable situation, 

 prepared to moor his ship to an adjoining piece of 

 ice. ISIeanwhilc, the other ship tacked, and the 

 master himself stepped into a boat, pushed off, and 

 rowed deliberately towards the dead fish. Obser- 

 ving the trembling seaman still in the water, hold- 

 ing by the fin, he addressed him with, " Well, 

 my lad, you've got a fine fish here," — to which, after 

 a natural reply in the affirmative, he added, 

 " But don't you find it very cold ?" — " Yes," re- 

 plied the shivering sailor, " I'm almost starved ; I 

 wish you would allow me to come into your boat until 

 ours arrive." This favour needed no second soli- 

 citation, the boat approached the man, and he was 

 assisted into it. The fish being again loose and 

 6ut of possession, the captain instantly struck his 



