Work of the Fighting Whales 305 



it. When the other boats that had been in pur- 

 suit of the whales returned to the ship, the cap- 

 tain cut away her masts. Thus relieved, she sank 

 more slowly, and the crew were able to get from 

 her 600 pounds of bread, 200 gallons of water, 

 a musket, a small canister of powder, two files, 

 two rasps, two pounds of boat nails, and some 

 meat. Each boat was fitted with a jib and two 

 spritsails, and while lying beside the ship, which 

 remained for some time afloat with her deck 

 awash, the sides of the three boats were built up 

 with spare plank so that they would be less 

 likely to ship water in a gale. Finally a consulta- 

 tion was held. The nearest land was the Mar- 

 quesas Islands, and next to them the Society 

 Islands. But the crew feared to head for those 

 islands because in those days the natives were 

 savages who had not been well treated by such 

 ships as had visited them. Accordingly it was 

 determined, on November 22, to steer for the 

 coast of South America. 



One of the boats (that commanded by the 

 mate) was old and patched, having been knocked 

 partly to pieces several times in fights with whales. 



