106 WHALING AND FISHING. 



The whales there were seven in all ran to the 

 leeward, that is to say, in a direction parallel to 

 what of the wind : contrary to their usual practice 

 in such cases, which ^s to s';art at once right in 

 '.be teeth of the breeze. 



While their present course made it much easier 

 for the boats to follow and perhaps catch up with 

 us, it much increased the difficulty of our approach, 

 for the purpose of lancing, as in such cases much 

 care is requisite, else would the boat be dashed 

 upon the whale by the billows which bore her 

 onward. 



We had, however, lanced but twice both times 

 ineffectually when the fish increased their speed 

 to seven or eight miles per hour, and running 

 almost continually under water, it was altogether 

 impossible to reach our whale with the lance, even 

 had we been able to get the boat sufficiently near 

 to him. 



On, on, on we swept, the other boats, with sails 

 and oars, pulling might and main to catch up with 

 us, and the ship, with every rag of canvas set, 

 bringing up the rear. 



Whenever there seemed a possibility of reach- 

 ing the whale, the boat was hauled up and a lanco 

 duly hurled at him; but with little eifect, as his 

 small was the part most generally hit, and each 

 wound seemed only to add to his speed. This was 

 soon such as that the breeze having to somo 

 degree failed we were fast dropping ship and 

 boats in the distance. 



