CHASE OF THE WHALE. 73 



being alarmed by the boats, so that it was im- 

 possible to get near enough for a dart. But at 

 one time five of the monsters rose close to our 

 boats. The mate motioned us all to be silent, 

 when we could have fastened to one, and the 

 only reason, as we supposed, why he did not, 

 was because he was so frightened. 



" The whale now ran to the southward, and 

 every boat was in chase as fast as we could 

 spring to our oars. The first mate's boat was 

 headmost in the chase, ours next, and the cap- 

 tain's about half a mile astern. The foremost 

 now came up with and fastened to a large 

 whale. We were soon on the battle ground, 

 and saw him struggling to free himself from 

 the barbed harpoon, which had gone deep into 

 his huge carcass. We pulled upon the mon- 

 ster, and our boat-steerer darted another har- 

 poon into him. * Stern all !' shouted the mate. 

 k SUTII all, for your lives!' We steered out 

 of the reach of danger, and peaked our oars. 



" The whale now ran, and took the line out 

 <'f tin- boat with such swiftness that we were 

 obliged to throw water on it to prevent its 



