54 THEWHALEAND 



The Lance. The Flurry. The Prize. 



and tossing the spray, and then lying still while 

 the whale sounded ; anon in swift motion again 

 when the game rose, for the space of an hour. 

 During this time another boat " got fast" to him 

 with its harpoons, and the captain's cruel lance 

 had several times struck his vitals. He was 

 killed, as whalemen call it, that is, mortally 

 wounded, an hour before he went into " his flur- 

 ry," and was really dead or turned up on his back. 

 The loose boat then came to the ship for a 

 hawser to fasten round his flukes ; which being 

 done, the captain left his irons in the carcass 

 and pulled for the ship, in order to beat to wind- 

 ward, and, after getting alongside, to " cut him 

 in." This done, and the mammoth carcass se- 

 cured to the ship by a chain round the bitts, 

 they proceeded to reeve the huge blocks that are 

 always made fast for the purpose to the fore and 

 main mast head, and to fasten the cutting-in 

 tackle. The captain and two mates then went 

 over the sides on steps well secured, and having 

 each a breast-rope to steady them and lean upon. 

 The cooper then passed them the long-handled 

 spades, which he was all the time grinding and 

 whetting, and they fell lustily to work chopping 

 off the blubber. 



