OLD WHALING DAYS. 29 



they could easily see her in the dark. They put two more 

 harpoons into her, and commenced to lance, but the dark- 

 ness made it very difficult and dangerous. About ten 

 o'clock they got her killed, and commenced as soon as 

 possible to tow. The sea being so heavy, it was a dreary 

 and tedious process. After struggling with her about four 

 hours, they were obliged to let her go, as it was impossible 

 for a boat to live entangled by a dead whale. They then 

 laid to with the boat's head to the sea, waiting for the 

 weather to clear, and for daylight. Thus it was we found 

 them. Some of the men were unable to use an oar. 

 Their bravery merited a better result than fickle fortune 

 gave them. Eight of the crew did not go to sea again, and 

 three died during the following winter at home. Others 

 were crippled for life through losing their toes. Such were 

 the perils of whaling in the days of sailing ships. With 

 powerful steam ships the work is play now to what it 

 used to be. When a boat gets fast to a whale the 

 vessel will have steam at hand, and will perhaps buoy his 

 cable, and in a short time steam close to his boats and tow 

 the whale into the harbour, whilst his crew are getting their 

 coffee, and being otherwise refreshed. After the incident 

 last related, the bay ice began to form fast in the little 

 creeks and bays. It was therefore thought expedient to 

 make sail for home. 



The captains of the five ships lying in the harbour had 

 a consultation, and it was decided to leave next day. 

 We supposed we were the last ships in the country. A 

 fine, fair northerly wind blowing, we all got under weigh 

 and proceeded down the Gulf. Whales were seen inshore 

 amongst some bay ice, but it would have been useless 

 to have attempted to go to them. We parted with the 

 other ships at the mouth of the Gulf, and steered more 

 along the land until it became dark, and then set our course 

 for home. After a moderate passage we sailed close to 



