MAN OVEBBOARD. 101 



boats down as they were lowered, ready to leap 

 into them as soon as they shoild strike the 

 water. 



In attempting this feat, one of the second mate's 

 3rew mistook the distance, and fell into the water, 

 from which he was fished up, sputtering and 

 shivering, receiving from the captain the consola- 

 tory advice to " never mind that, as it was all clean 

 water down there." 



It was a beautiful morning. There" was just 

 enough of breeze to make the sails of more use 

 than the oars, and sufficient sea to admit of an 

 easy approach to w whale. The glorious sunrise, 

 such a scene as is to be witnessed only in the 

 tropics, the balmy air, and the unwonted excite- 

 ment, all united to put us in excellent spirits, 

 and many a joke was exchanged on prospective 

 mishaps, as we put up our boat sails and set out 

 for the scene of action. 



The position which each of the four boats was 

 to take had been previously arranged, and as the 

 whales had not appeared to be in motion when 

 first seen, it was supposed that they would rise 

 not far from the place where they had gone down. 

 Accordingly, when we judged ourselves within 

 about a quarter of a mile of this spot we hove to 

 our boat, preferring to remain at that distance to 

 windward, as it would be easy enough to sail down, 

 but more difficult to pull up, d id we fall to leeward. 

 The other boats were shortly hove to likewise, and 



