^52 WHALE-FISHERY. 



mile and a lialf of line from the fast-boat. Three 

 other harpoons and several lances were then struck. 

 A convulsive effort of tlie whale followed, when, 

 to the astonishincnt of every one, it was found to 

 be free. It dived and escaped. By a single ener- 

 getic throe, one of the lines and one of the har- 

 poons, were broken, and two other harpoons were 

 drawn out. In the interval of time, in which the 

 boats had been engaged, a storm commenced ; the 

 loss of the fish was therefore considered as a happy 

 release. The crews of five boats were left to haul 

 the lines in, and two (myself in one) returned to the 

 ship. Thick snow immediately began to fall, the 

 boats were already out of sig]it,and their distance was 

 constantly increasing on account of the rapid drift 

 of tiie sliip to leeward. At 1 a. m. the mooring 

 was cut, the sails set, and the ship worked on short 

 tacks to windward, in the supposed direction of tlie 

 boats. At 3 A. M. we were rejoiced by the sight of 

 three of the boats ; the crews of which informed us^ 

 that the remaining two might be expected in half 

 an hour by the same track. During five tedious 

 hours of anxiety and distress, we navigated off and 

 on among troublesome and dangerous ice. Guns 

 were fired occasionally, and at every interval all 

 hands vsere occupied in straining their eyes, with 

 the hope of descrying the boats through the obscu- 

 rity of the snow. The snow was not attenuated, 

 the storm raged, and the sea increased, while a 



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