192 THE WHALE AND 



Boat under Way. A sleepy Look-out. 



beam. And now, without heaving to or alter- 

 ing the ship's course, the boat was lowered to 

 leeward. Mr. Hopkins and his stalwart and 

 eager crew stepped into it, seized their oars 

 the word was given and hurrah, whiz ! away 

 they darted toward the whale with the swiftness 

 of an arrow. 



We watched the boat with much interest 

 and no little anxiety; for even now, if the 

 prize should be discovered from the Orion, that 

 ship would be filled away, and, running down 

 before the wind, would be able to reach it be- 

 fore Mr. Hopkins could get fast to it with his 

 harpoon. And this reflection seemed to add 

 vigor to the arms of the boat's crew, for they 

 pulled away heartily with a right good will 

 and forced the boat merrily through the water. 

 But their fears were groundless. For nearly 

 half an hour they pulled with a degree of 

 strength and skill seldom equaled, and were 

 close on board the whale, and still neither the 

 whale nor the boat was seen by the sleepy 

 look-out on board the Orion ! 



Under these circumstances, I considered that 

 maneuvering was no longer necessary, and 

 gave the orders to tack ship, which enabled us 



