224 THE WHALE AND 



A Gleam of Hope. They Shout for dear Life are heard. 



one of the absent boats returning to the ship. 

 It was, however, far off, apparently beyond the 

 reach of their loudest outcries. Impelled by the 

 energies of despair, they simultaneously raised 

 a shout, which blended with the wash of the 

 waves and sighing of the breeze, and the boat 

 continued on its way. Again they raised an- 

 other shout, and it was also unavailing. 



The shades of the night were deepening, the 

 boat rapidly passing by them. Almost frenzied 

 at their terrible condition, they raised another 

 cry. The sound of that distant shriek fell faintly 

 upon the ears of the boatmen, and they rested 

 on their oars. Another shout, which almost lac- 

 erated their throats, was raised, and the boat 

 turned in pursuit. They were taken from the 

 water, and carried almost lifeless to the ship. 



In another authentic instance, when a boat 

 was chasing a whale, he suddenly turned to 

 windward, and made directly for his pursuers, 

 who were so excited by the chase as to be blind 

 to danger. On, therefore, they madly rushed, 

 without trying to avoid the infuriated monster, 

 so eager were they to plunge into him their 

 irons, till the boat struck with such force upon 

 the whale's head as to throw the oarsmen from 



