186 WHALING AND FISHING. 



our most strenuous efforts. Wo were obliged to 

 tow him sideways for nearly the entire distance. 



It was one of the most tedious and straining 

 undertakings I have ever assisted at. Hour after 

 hour we tugged at the oars, our progress so slow 

 that we scarce seemed to gain any. My heart 

 gank as I thought that every whale we took would 

 have to be brought alongside in just this way. 



It was eleven o'clock that night ere we had our 

 whale moored alongside. I was never more ex 

 hausted in my life. Some of the hands were 

 downright sick. The following day six boats' 

 crews remained to cut in, while our captain, leav- 

 ing the fourth mate on board, went down in com- 

 pany with the captain of the Jas. Eogers, to try his 

 fortune. They returned empty-handed, just in 

 time to see the last blanket -piece going into our 

 blubber room. 



The operations of cutting in and trying out are 

 of course much better and easier done in harbor 

 than at sea. All the labor is lightened by the 

 steadiness of the ship, and there is at least a bare 

 possibility of keeping clean. Two boats' crews 

 were left on board the following day to try out 

 Ihe rest of us going off as usual at five o'clock, in 

 Ihe rain. 



We, of the mate's boats' crew, were quite proud 

 of having gotten the first whale in the bay, and 

 determined to distinguish ourselves again if pos 

 Bible. But on that day the fates favored the sec- 

 ond mate of the other vessel. Sailing close in to 



