154 BOAT CAPSIZED AND MAN DROWNED. 



cured the paunch of a hlackfish, which is readily 

 found on board a whaler — it being well adapted for 

 making drugs ; * in it he stowed his clothes, and 

 firmly securing the aperture, he had an air-tight bag, 

 with which he succeeded in reaching tLe shore in 

 safety. Having a good deal of Yankee shrewdness, 

 and being able to tinker a little, as well as to con- 

 verse intelligibly, he managed to get into employ- 

 ment, and was doing quite well when last heard 

 from. 



On the last day of March our mastheadsman sung 

 out, that there were boats whaling ahead. We stood 

 towards them, and, in the course of an hour, found 

 that the James Allen's boats were fast to a large 

 sperm whale. We kept on running, and sighted more 

 whales. We lowered away our boats at about 3 o'clock 

 in the afternoon ; but at 4| o'clock we called them 

 aboard, and stood out to sea. The boats were again 

 lowered at 5 o'clock ; and the third mate, after half 

 an hour's chase, struck a noble whale, his boatsteerer 

 giving him both irons clear to the socket. Scarcely, 

 howev.er, had the second harpoon left his hand when 

 the boat was struck twice in succession by the whale's 

 flukes. The blows were struck between the bow and 

 amidship thwarts, knocking a large hole completely 

 through her. She soon filled, and capsized. The 

 crew swam to her, and got upon her bottom ; but, 

 there being a heavy swell on, she continued to roll 

 over and over, the crew folloAving her as best they 

 could. Several times they regained their position on 

 her ; but just as the other boats approached the scene 

 of disaster, to give them aid, they discovered that one 

 of their number was missing. At the same instant 



