Sketches Afloat with the Whalers 259 



whales off the coast of Patagonia. Three boats 

 were lowered, including that of Mr. Baker, and 

 they took the whales head and head. The mate 

 got fast first, and then Mr. Baker, after a vain 

 effort to reach the other whale, pulled in where his 

 harpooner threw two irons into the mate's whale. 

 In the usual course Mr. Baker then went forward 

 and used his lance, but at the instant he shoved 

 the steel home the whale caught his boat with 

 its tail, and the next thing Baker knew he was 

 lying in a half of the boat. The other half had 

 been reduced to splinters, and one of Baker's 

 legs had been broken above the knee. After 

 saving the whale (Baker's lance thrust killed 

 it) the other boat took the young man to the ship, 

 where he lay in his bunk for eighty days. When 

 at last he was able to walk on crutches, he hap- 

 pened to be on deck when a whale was raised. 

 All the boats having been ordered away, Baker 

 took his place in spite of the remonstrances of the 

 other officers, and leaning on the heavy steering 

 oar in place of a crutch, he put his boat where his 

 harpooner was able to give the whale first iron. 

 Among the classic tales of the whale fishery is 



