TOWING A WHALE. 185 



and sometimes the officers could set their lances into 

 his body. Clotted blood and pieces of liver and 

 lungs were now spouted up continually, yet the 

 obstinate beast retained strength to drag us 

 through the water. Four hours, from ten till 

 two, we worked upon him, and when, at two 

 o'clock, he finally expired, he was actually un- 

 der neadway. We were lancing him, when he 

 gave a little start and suddenly turned over, 

 heaving his long fin out of water, and with a 

 slight quiver died. By this time we were nearly 

 twenty miles from the anchorage, and had now 

 before us the disagreeable task of towing our 

 whale to the vessel. After waiting a short time, 

 to see if he would sink (which in this case did 

 not happen) , lines were fastened to various parts 

 of his body, and we began towing him landward. 



" Why don't you tow him tail first," I asked of 

 one of the boatsteerers, " that seems to be the 

 smallest end." 



" That plan has been tried, but was not found 

 to answer so well. He seems to have been de- 

 signed to go head first, and that is the easiest way 

 to tow him." 



We were shortly joined by the other boats, and 

 were then able to make headway at the rate of 

 about three miles per hour, with th.e aid of a stiff 

 gea-breeze. Do what we would, howevei , we could 

 not keep our whale heading as we wished. Hia 

 body seemed to fit naturally in the trough of the 

 little sea that was on, and thus he lay, spite of 



