166 THE WHALEMAN'S ADVENTURES. 



moment I was flying in the air, and a moment 

 after was several fathoms under water. The 

 whale came up head foremost, hitting the boat 

 a tremendous knock under my feet, sending me 

 all flying. The captain at the same time 

 seized his steering oar, and overboard he went 

 also. 



Fortunately I could swim well, and soon 

 came up to blow ; but I had hardly time to 

 spout, before I found that I was in a very dis- 

 agreeable situation. Putting out my arm to 

 swim, I hit the whale on his head, and at the 

 same time saw the boat three or four rods from 

 me. I confess I did not feel exactly right; but 

 it was no use for me to lie still, and be picked 

 up like a squid ; so I made a regular shove 

 off with my feet against the whale's head, and 

 struck out for the boat. I saw that all was 

 confusion in the boat, and that the men did not 

 notice me at all. I had on thick clothes, and 

 found it hard swimming. Finally, one of the 

 men saw me, and stopped the boat, which some 

 of them were steering away from me as fast as 

 they could. 



