178 THE WHALEMAN S ADVENTURES. 



them but slowly ; and such was the excitement 

 of the race, that we were in danger of passing 

 over where the whale had last 'blowed.' At 

 this moment the English boat-steerer noticed 

 the manner in which I had placed my left hand 

 and weight against the oar. Instantly laying 

 hold of his own in like manner, his first effort 

 broke it short at the lock. Thus disabled, he 

 gave us a hearty curse, and we shot past him 

 like a meteor. 



" We had been so excited with the race that 

 we had lost sight of the whale. As luck would 

 have it, at this instant she 'blowed' but a few 

 rods ahead. In a moment we were fast, and 

 ( all hands stern/ Soon she was in a f flurry, 

 and in the course of an hour we were slowly 

 returning to our ship. That whale stowed us 

 down eighty- five barrels of oil, and shortened 

 our voyage two months." 



It is easy to see that there must be a thrilling 

 excitement, in the adventurous chase of game 

 like this, that has a tinge of the romantic to 

 young and eager minds. There was romance 

 surely, as well as reality, in a whaling feat I 



