126 THE WHALEMAN'S ADVENTURES. 



harpoons, and the crews standing by, ready 

 to follow the boats down to the water, when 

 the word came from the captain to lower 

 away. 



" There she blows !" sung out the man at 

 the fore ; " not half a mile off." 



"Down helm !" shouted the captain. "Mr. 

 A., brace up the mizen top-sail. Hoist and 

 swing the boats ! Lower away !" Down went 

 the boats, and down followed the crews. As 

 the boats struck the water, every man was on 

 his thwart, with his hand on the loom of his 

 oar, and all at once the three boats were cutting 

 their way through the water in the direction of 

 the whale. 



It was my duty to steer the mate's boat, and 

 she happened to be the fastest puller, so that, 

 although we all left the ship together, and for 

 a few rods kept nearly head and head with each 

 other, still we knew well enough that, as soon 

 as the word came from the mate to " give way," 

 we should drop the others in a moment. So 

 we did not fret ourselves, but kept cool for a 

 tight pull when the whale should show himself 



