146 THE WHALE AND 



Blood up in the Chase. A Tight Pull. 



" There she blows !" sung out the man at 

 the fore ; "not half a mile off." 



" Down helm !" shouted the captain. " Mr. 

 A., brace up the mizzen top-sail. Hoist and 

 swing the boats ! Lower away !" Down went 

 the boats, and down followed the crews. As 

 the boats struck the water, every man was on 

 his thwart, with his hand on the loom of his 

 oar, and all at once the three boats were cut- 

 ting their way through the water in the direc- 

 tion of the whale. 



It was my duty to steer the mate's boat, and 

 she happened to be the' fastest puller, so that, 

 although we all left the ship together, and for 

 a few rods kept nearly head and head with each 

 other, still we knew well enough that, as soon 

 as the word came from the mate to " give 

 way," we should drop the others in a moment. 

 So we did not fret ourselves, but kept cool for 

 a tight pull when the whale should show him- 

 self on the surface of the water again, which 

 he did the moment after. 



" Here she is !" cried the mate ; " and not 

 over ten rods from the boat. Now, my dear 

 fellows, lay back hard! Spring hard, I tell 

 you ! There she blows ! Only give way, my 



