144 WHALING AND FISHING. 



answer, " every ir an for himself, and the devil foi 

 us all!" 



" Pull hard, boys bend your ash ! lay to her, 

 you devils ! strain your muscles ! " urged the 

 mate, in earnest whisper, as he himself pushed 

 with might and main against the after oar. 



The whales had risen about three-quarters of a 

 mile from where we lay awaiting them, and -a 

 much greater distance from any of the other 

 boats, whose crews were now pulling after us, 

 simply as witnesses to our race, arid to be at hand 

 in case of accident. 



" Pull hard ! " said our mate, glaring with blood 

 shot eyes upon the mate of the other boat. 



" Lay to your oars, men," urged that worthy 

 as he anxiously watched our boat, and found him- 

 self unable to drop us. 



Meantime the steady click of the oars, and the 

 rush of the boats through the water, filled every 

 ear. 



Now we fast neared the whales. Now a huge 

 spout seems to be uttered not a boat's length 

 ahead. A motion of the hand upward, tells the 

 boatsteerer to stand up. 



He peaks his oar. The boatsteerer in the other 

 boat does the same. 



"Give way now, men, for your lives," urges 

 tne mate, still in a whisper. 



Both boats are aiming for the same whale, whose 

 huge broadside lies exposed not three darts from us 



