Sketches Afloat with the Whalers 255 



alities. With English, French, Portuguese, and 

 Americans pulling for one whale, every man worked 

 with all his might for the honor of the flag; and 

 that is a fact worth considering. In one race 

 the story is a classic among American whalemen 

 - an English and an American boat chased a 

 whale in Delagoa Bay. The Englishmen were 

 able to cut in between the whale and the American 

 boat, but as they drew up beside the whale, and 

 the Englishman at the bow reached for his iron, 

 the American harpooner leaped to his feet and 

 "pitchpoled" his harpoon clear over the English 

 boat and struck the whale. 



To "pitchpole" is to throw a harpoon with 

 both hands through a high curve to a long range. 

 In "pitchpoling" the harpooner generally rests 

 the top end of the harpoon handle in the palm 

 of his right hand and then, steadying the weapon 

 with the left hand, gives it a toss. 



As the harpoon in the Delagoa Bay race struck 

 the whale, the harpoon line fell across the English 

 boat. The English crew were placed in deadly 

 peril, but they managed to get clear of the line 

 before a strain came upon it. Then the Ameri- 



