THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 357 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



Captain Huntting, and fighting Whale off the Rio de la Plata. Bomb-lance 

 failed to kill. Four Boats lost, and their Gear. The Whale holds the 

 Field. A demoralized Crew allowed to desert. Two Years out, and we 

 double back: a running Sketch of Month's voyaging. The Washing- 

 ton, of Nan tucket: two Men killed. Her third Mate caught in the Jaw, 

 and bitten. The Ocean, of Nantucket: Mate killed. Weigh Anchor in 

 Valparaiso Harbor, and sail for Eight - whale Grounds. Bear versus 

 Skunk ; or, Theory versus Fact. Approach the Eight Whale with mis- 

 givings. 



BEFORE bidding adieu to the sperm-whale, and passing to 

 an account of the southern right whale, I will relate the ex- 

 perience of Captain Huntting, off the Rio de la Plata. 



Some sage has remarked, by-the-way, that hunting tigers 

 may be fine sport, but that when the tigers take to hunting 

 the hunters, the sport has a different aspect. The aspect of 

 whaling is not improved, certainly, when a ninety-barrel bull 

 whale hunts on his own account in deep water. Such a one 

 was met by Captain Huntting. When the monster was struck, 

 he did not attempt to escape, but turned at once on the boat 

 with his jaw, cut her in two, and continued thrashing the 

 wreck until it was completely broken up. One of the loose 

 boats picked up the swimmers, and took them to the ship. 

 The other two boats went on, and each planted two irons in 

 the irate animal. This aroused him, and he turned his full 

 fury on them, crushing in their bottoms with the jaw, and 

 not leaving them while a promising mouthful held together. 

 Twelve demoralized men were in the water, anxious observers 

 of his majestic anger. Two men who could not swim had, 

 in their terror, climbed on his back and seated themselves 



