WHALE HUNTING WITH GUN AND CAMERA 



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speed was increasing every moment. When almost 

 opposite us, about thirty fathoms away, suddenly, 

 with a terrific slash of his tail, he half turned on his 

 side and dashed directly at the ship. 



"Full speed astern!" yelled the gunner, dancing 

 about like a madman. ''He'll sink us; he'll sink us!" 



The whale was coming at tremendous speed, half 

 buried in white foam, lashing right and left with his 

 enormous flukes. In an instant he hit us. We had 

 half swung about and he struck a glancing blow di- 

 rectly amidships, keeling the little vessel far over and 

 making her tremble as though she had gone on the 

 rocks; then bumped along the side, running his nose 

 squarely into the propeller. The whirling blades tore 

 great strips of blubber from his snout and jaws and 

 he backed off astern. 



Then turning about with his entire head project- 

 ing from the water like the bow of a submarine, he 

 swam parallel with the ship. As he rushed along I 

 caught a glimpse of the dark head in the mirror of 

 my camera and pressed the button. An instant later 

 the great animal rolled on his side, thrust his fin 

 straight upward, and sank. It had been his death 

 struggle and this time he was down for good. As 

 the water closed over the dead whale I leaned against 

 the rail trembling with excitement, the perspiration 

 streaming from my face and body. Andersen was 

 shouting orders in English, Norwegian, and Japanese, 

 and cursing in all three languages at once. 



I think none of us realized until then just what 

 a narrow escape we had had. If the whale had struck 



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