356 NIMROD OF THE SEA; OR, 



of Welsh, the tub-oarsman, as he was squeezed in the clamp- 

 ing jaw ; and the after-oarsman had his leg from the instep 

 squeezed clean off. 



. " The line fouled in the wreck, and the boat was carried 

 right down, leaving only the oars to float us. One couldn't 

 swim, and the wounded man was in a bad way. We got 

 them on the oars, -when, to my great relief, the bow, or 

 big end of the boat, rose close to us, and we were able to 

 cling to it. The whale rose again, however, and commenced 

 nosing round the wreck, pushing it from side to side, and 

 rolling the frightened men into the water as fast as they 

 climbed on. 



"The old man saw our trouble now, and ran down with 

 the ship to pick us up. As he came to just to windward of 

 us, the whale made straight for the ship, and feebly butted 

 her. Backing off, he returned and butted her again, rubbing 

 his great head up and down her sides, with the best will for 

 mischief. Loss of blood told, however, and finally he went 

 into his flurry, and we were picked up by the mate's boat." 





