Work of the Fighting Whales 299 



for three-quarters of an hour that whale and 

 I were fighting; the act of breathing became 

 labored and painful; my head and shoulders were 

 sore from bruises and my legs had been pounded 

 by her flukes ; but it was not until I found myself 

 swimming with my arms alone, with my legs 

 hanging paralyzed, that I felt actually scared. 

 Then it looked as if I couldn't hold out much 

 longer. I had seen the ship close beside me and 

 the second mate's boat trying to get in to me and 

 throwing me lines; but I had failed to reach 

 them. Now these things seemed very far ofF; 

 that was the last I remembered until I came to 

 aboard ship. 



"I was afterward told that the first mate, in 

 answer to a signal from the ship, had come up; 

 and seeing me feebly paddling with my hands 

 and not answering his hail he put straight into the 

 fight. The whale saw them coming and made for 

 them. The men sprang to their oars, and the 

 mate had time to seize my collar while they 

 pulled their best to escape the furious whale. 



"The mate had true pluck. Leaving me to 

 the care of the crew on board, he put back for 



