78 EEMmiSOENCES OF THE LEWS. 



threats (for it was proposed to fire across their 

 bows to bring them to) — these demons, with 

 an indescribable yell, broke loose, and being on 

 the outside, but nearest, flank to the whales, 

 rushed their boat at the J^arrows with the 

 incoming tide. Deep were our imprecations, 

 for in a second the whales turned, and the 

 game was up. I have seen a fox headed back 

 into a small gorse in the middle of a fine grass 

 country, with not a bush to shelter him for six 

 miles, by a jealous tailor, and have, with a 

 good many others, had feelings far beyond 

 manslaughter ; but I have often wondered since 

 how those three female fiends escaped. For- 

 tunately for them, however, so great was the 

 confusion that followed their memorable exploit, 

 that they got ofi" unpunished, and were, I 

 understand, never heard of more. 



The moment the whales turned it was all 

 over, unless they could be met and turned again 

 at Seaforth Island. The whole fleet, with the 

 exception of our boat, started at once for the 

 island, with that object. Our admiral kept his 

 position, and waited to see what the whales 

 would really do, and, on their apparently re- 

 maining quiescent, we approached nearer. All 

 at once he called out " Steady ! " Ahead of us 

 the loch seemed to seethe like boiling milk; 



