﻿THE WHALE. 297 



played in the boat, on the sight of which, those on the watch in the 

 ship give the alarm by stamping on the deck, accompanied by the 

 shout, " A fall ! a fall !" At this signal the sleeping crew are aroused, 

 jump from their beds, rush upon deck with their clothes tied in a 

 string in their hands, and crowd into the boats, intending to dress 

 themselves at leisure. 



The first effort of the whale is to escape from the boat by diving 

 under water, and the greatest care is necessary that the line to which 

 the harpoon is attached may be run off readily along with him. 

 Should it become entangled for a moment, the boat would be drawn 

 under the waves. Sometimes, however, to retard its motion, a turn 

 of the rope is cast around a kind of post, called the bollard, which 

 is fixed near the stern of the boat for that purpose ; and such is the 

 velocity and friction of the line, that it frequently envelopes the 

 harpooner in smoke, and if the wood were not frequently wetted, 

 it would set fire to the boat. The line is frequently run out in 

 eight or ten minutes, and its end is then attached to the line in an- 

 other boat, and even that of a third is sometimes necessary. When 

 the crew of a boat see a prospect of their own store being ex- 

 hausted, they make signals to the vessel for more, for if none 

 should arrive there is only one resource left, which is to cut the 

 line and thus lose it, fish and all. 



After remaining under water for some time, the whale is obliged 

 to return to the surface for air. On his appearance all the boats 

 hasten towards him, and each harpooner plunges another weapon 

 into his back. He is then actively plied with long, sharp lances, 

 which are thrust into his vitals; and at length, when exhausted 

 with numerous wounds, he indicates the approach of dissolution. 

 The final capture is sometimes preceded by a convulsive and awful 

 struggle, and in dying, it turns over on its side or back, which joy- 

 ful circumstance is announced by three loud huzzas, and the strik- 

 ing of the flags. No time is lost ere the tail is pierced and fastened 

 with ropes to the boats, which drag the carcass to the ship amidst 

 shouts of triumph. 



