"THERE'S BLOOD." !19 



was now too dark to distinguish even the boats, 

 which were under sail at a quarter of a mile's 

 distance, and with sinking hearts, we were one 

 b^- f one abandoning the lookout, and turning our 

 Cjyes toward the ship, when 



"There, by George, there's the whale th 

 third mate has fastened to him," shouted the 

 mate, jumping up and down with joy. 



Giving vent to a shout of exultation, wo bent 

 to our oars, and were soon within hail of the fast 

 boat. 



"Don't you lance that whale he's got our iron 

 in him and I want to kill him blast him," shouted 

 the mate, hoarse with excitement. 



The fish lay quite still upon the water, and the 

 third mate readily gave place to us. We took 

 hold of his line. 



"Now pull me up to the beast." 



" Take the line to the bow cleat, and then take 

 a turn about the bow thwart, and hold me to him 

 till I churn him!" 



The boat was brought in contact with the 

 whale's side, and while I held her there, by a turn 

 of the line as directed, the mate set the long 

 slender lance fairly over his life, and sent it home, 

 repeating his thrust again and again. A tremen- 

 dous quiver of the vast body, and the issue of a 

 mass of clotted blood from his spout-holes, were 

 the immediate consequences. 



" There's blood hurrah ! " was exultingly 

 shouted at the top of every voice. It is a cry 



