INCIDENTS OF WHALING. 213 



him to the ship, from some inadvertence on the 

 part of the third mate in putting about, the 

 boat capsized, with loss of boat-keg, lantern- 

 keg, boat-bucket, compass, paddles, &c. The 

 crew succeeded in righting the boat, and lashed 

 the oars to the thwarts across the boat, to pre- 

 vent her from overturning, she being filled with 

 water, and the sea continually breaking over 

 her. 



Two waifs, or flags, were immediately set as 

 a signal of distress, the other two boats being in 

 sight, at a distance of about one and a half 

 miles. Captain Hosmer saw the other two boats 

 take their whales alongside of the barque, which 

 was then kept off in the direction for his boat ; 

 but, to his surprise and horror, when within 

 about one mile of him, they kept off on another 

 course until sundown. The crew of the cap- 

 tain's boat then got upon the whale alongside, 

 and tried to bail the boat, but could not suc- 

 ceed. They then cut the line attached to the 

 whale, and succeeded in setting some pieces of 

 the boat-sail, and steered toward the barque, 

 then about three miles distant. 



