OLD WHALING DAYS. 107 



to windward. The line had got foul round the bollard of 

 the boat, and the axe could not be found to chop it, having 

 got displaced when she struck me. The danger was 

 imminent, for if the whale had gone downward she would 

 have carried the boat with her. As soon as possible the 

 line was cut with a knife, and the boat pulled towards me. 

 I was lying on my back like a cork on the water. When 

 they took hold of me the lance fell out of my hand. I was 

 lifted into the boat, conveyed on board, and put into bed. 

 My clothes had to be cut off, being frozen. Fortunately 

 we had a very clever doctor, who waited and watched by my 

 side for six weeks until we arrived home. 



To return to the incident of the whale. The other four 

 boats were told by the American boat's crew that we were 

 fastened to a whale. They made all speed towards us, but 

 did not arrive until she was dead. There was a short heavy 

 sea, and it was with difficulty they could lash the fins 

 together and tow her to a place of shelter. One boat 

 was thrown by the sea over the carcase and capsized, 

 nearly drowning the crew. After towing some time they 

 found refuge in a small cove about six miles from the 

 ship, and there stayed until the following day, when the 

 wind moderated. The boats came alongside during the 

 afternoon, their crews being wet, hungry, and nearly 

 worn out. After a rest they " flensed " the fish, and 

 stowed the blubber away in the tanks. This whale yielded 

 nineteen and a-half tons of oil and nearly one ton of bone. 

 For a few days the crews went away with the boats as usual, 

 and saw many whales, but the weather became so boisterous 

 they did not succeed in capturing any more. The captain 

 heard from some natives that there was a harbour about 

 twenty miles further south, close to Frobisher Straits, and 

 that whales were plentiful. They got under weigh on the 

 loth of October, but only reached the outside when night 

 came on, the wind having failed them, so they lay to and 



