A Sportsman 329 



anon tearing off large slabs of blubber from the 

 belly and about the head. At times the whale would 

 get below before it could be lanced, but would be 

 followed to any depth it could go, returning more or 

 less exhausted to the surface, throwing itself out 

 clear with the ferocious wolves of the sea still fastened 

 on. 



The Davidsons stationed one of their number 

 during the whaling season by or at an old light- 

 house on a headland, where an open view of the sea 

 was shown, and here the sea was scanned by the 

 aid of a powerful glass, and from where the spout- 

 ing of a whale could be observed at a distance of two 

 or three miles ; but when a whale in its pleasant mood 

 "breached" by throwing itself bodily out of the 

 water, as it is wont to do, creating a great commotion 

 and splashing of waves and spray, it could be seen 

 five or six miles off. The killers of course could 

 not see this, lazily sporting about in the small bay, 

 spouting now and then, and showing their black 

 glistening backs as they rose to roll or dive, remain- 

 ing in waiting during the whaling season, not far 

 from the two whaling boats kept in readiness near 

 the trying-out station, their dependence being largely 

 placed upon the Davidson family. 



Whales being sighted out in the offing, and the 

 fluttering flag signals two or three miles south from 

 the boats, thrown out at the light house station, 

 aroused excited action at the boat station, and the 

 men at the trying work rushed to the oars. 



"There they blow, at the north-west, humpbacks 

 steering north." 



Off went the boats, fully equipped, at their best speed 



