WHALES AND WHALING 



vapour quickly dissolves, but the greasy particles are left 

 lying on the surface of the water, and so afford an indis- 

 putable "trail," which the whalers are not slow to take 

 advantage of. 



The coxswain has carefully noted the angle at which 

 the creature's tail was inclined, for that is an indication 

 of the direction it will have followed; also the quantity 

 of the grease spots, from which he will be able to tell 

 whether the whale has taken a long or a short breath, for 

 upon this depends the length of time it will remain under 

 water, and according to his deductions he gives his com- 

 mands to the crew. 



Presently comes a repetition of the rumbling and eddy- 

 ing ; the helmsman has not been far out in his reckoning ; 

 the whale is coming to the surface only thirty yards away 

 from his boat ; the other crews see it and start rowing 

 with all their strength. But the coxswain of the nearest 

 boat takes things gently; certainly he wants to get within 

 half a dozen yards of the whale, but he does not want his 

 boat to come in contact with the animal's tail, or to get 

 a knock with a huge nipper that will swamp her or 

 smash her to splinters. 



Holding his spear with both hands, and supporting 

 himself against the curves of the bow, the harpooner 

 awaits the signal. 



" Let go ! " or " Strike ! " shouts the cox suddenly, and 

 all the men hold their breath in their excitement and 

 suspense, for so much depends on the shot. If the harpoon 

 should be thrown awkwardly or with insufficient force, it 

 may merely prick the skin, and fall out again by its own 



236 



