WHALES AND WHALING 



possible chance, a third will seek to join herself on in like 

 manner, for every extra weight will tend to shorten the 

 whale's journey. 



Groaning and roaring so that it can be heard three 

 miles away, the wounded creature dashes on till it has 

 exhausted the length of line that hangs to the second 

 harpoon, then pauses for a moment, for it finds the weight 

 behind increased by a third boat. Now it is the turn of 

 the helmsmen to feel nervous ; each one of them has but 

 two eyes one for his boat, and one for the whale ; and 

 just now he would give a considerable sum to possess a 

 third, to keep on the other two boats. The two that are 

 tied together are in little danger from each other, but a 

 collision between them and the third depends largely on 

 the whale's pleasure. He has enough rope to keep him 

 from " rounding on " the crews, for unless anything un- 

 foreseen should happen, they can dodge him before he can 

 get to them. 



The remaining boats, meanwhile, are watching for an 

 opportunity of giving chase whenever possible, or are lying 

 in wait in case the whale should turn their way. One 

 sharper or luckier than the rest has been able to pull 

 round to the whale's far side as he stops, doubtful whether 

 to dive again or not, and the men in the towed boats 

 breathe a little more freely as they catch a glimpse of her 

 sharp bows near the monster's tail ; for they know that 

 with a little luck a fatal blow is about to be struck. 



The harpooner in this boat is leaning so far forward 

 that every moment it seems as if he must overbalance ; 

 holding not the ordinary harpoon, but a broad-bladed lance 



240 



