192 WHALING AND FISHING. 



remain at the surface; and further that at such 

 times by hallooing, hooting, beating tin pans and 

 blowing fog-horns, the whale wou.xl become so 

 terrified as to be unable to move. We had one 

 opportunity to put this to trial, but met with a 

 species of success which discouraged any farther 

 attempts of this kind upon the fish. 



We had started two whales from under the 

 land, and for several hours were pulling after them, 

 with some hopes of catching up with them, as 

 they seemed to go off in a straight line, and at no 

 greater speed than we could ourselves make by 

 strenuous exertions. We were alone, our partner 

 boat having gone off in chase of another whale. 

 The whales slacked their speed a little, and 

 encouraged by this, we rushed the boat upon them, 

 shouting and hallooing at the top of our voices, 

 the mate bringing into requisition a conch shell 

 of formidable dimensions, from which he blew a 

 most ominous toot-toot. 



One whale made his escape, but the other 

 became in a manner paralyzed from fright, and lay 

 still upon the water, moving his great flukes 

 slowly up and down, but making no headway. 



" Stand up, you sir, and don't you miss that 

 whale,'' shouted by the mate apprized us that we 

 were upon him. 



"Grhe it to him!" and at the word Barnard, 

 who to use the mate's language, "would have 

 struck the whale had he been sure he would have 

 struck him back the next minute," darted his iron, 



