108 WHALING AND FISHING. 



with waiting for a favorable opportunity, about 

 four o'clock it was determined to make a desper- 

 ate effort, running every risk for the sake of get 

 fcing a dart at the whale's life. 



" Pull the boat up," said the mate, with an air 

 which showed that something was to be done. 



" Now Charley," to the present writer, "hang on 

 to the line, and don't slack till I give the word. 

 Take it out of the chock, and let her shoot ahead 

 by the bow cleat." 



" Lay the boat around," to the boat-steerer. 

 This maneuver gave us a better chance, and a 

 lance was sent quivering into his body. A stroke 

 of his flukes on the water just ahead of us, was 

 the quick reply. 



" Hold on tight don't drop her an inch astern," 

 cried the mate, as the whale came to almost a 

 dead stop. 



" Now I'll get a .set on you ! " he muttered 

 between his clenched teeth, as the boat shot up 

 against his broad side. He placed his lance fairly, 

 and sent it home, with the whole weight of his 

 body. As it touched his life, the whale dashed 

 down head first, in the motion striking his flukes 

 against the boat's bottom, and breaking two or 

 three planks. No sooner had he felt her, how- 

 ever, than turning with lightning speed, he re* 

 turned to the surface head foremost, open-mouth^, 

 striking and thrusting with his long, slender jaw 

 as though it were a sword. One blow from this 

 jaw stove in the whole bow of the boat, and she 



