102 WHALING AND FISHING. 



QOW we lay in silence, awaiting the reappearance 

 of our prey. 



Every eye and ear was on the alert, ready to 

 ( atch the slightest motion or sound ; for none could 

 tell how soon the school would make their appear 

 ance at the surface. 



"I thought I heard a spout," said the boat- 

 steerer in a whisper. In his eagerness he had 

 gotten upon the bow chock, anxiously peering 

 over the waves as the boat was lifted upon the 

 swell. A moment's silent listening convinced 

 him that it was nothing but a sea-break, and we 

 again strained our eyes for the expected sight. 



" There blows ! I told you I would see him 

 first," said the mate, joyfully, as he pointed to a 

 thin bushy spray just melting out of sight. 



"There blows again!" cried the boatsteerer, 

 adding in a somewhat mortified tone, " I was 

 looking another way, or I should have seen it 

 first." 



" There, and there and there there blows! 

 there are seven or eight big whales I can see 

 them now from my place," continued Barnard, 

 the boatsteerer, whom I was yet holding up on 

 the bow chock, the dancing motion of the boat 

 making it impossible for him to maintain that 

 position unsupported. 



" Sit down now, and we'll sail slowly down 

 toward them ; I want to see in what direction they 

 are going to stand." 



We were nearest to the fish, and it was evident 



