A DEEP-SEA SPERM WHALE HUNT 



they came under oars. And how the bully boys rowed, for 

 the cry had gone up that we were stove, and they pulled 

 to save our lives. 



As they got close, we urged them with our cheers and 

 cries to go in and show what they were good for. Straight 

 ahead they shot onto the "bunch," and just as they almost 

 touched one that they had picked out, there was the curve 

 of an iron through the air; the next minute they were going 

 like the wind with the whale's flukes just clearing the stern, 

 throwing spray in every direction. 



The second mate, as cool as a cucumber and with a happy 

 smile on his face, stood in the bow crouched down to keep 

 as dry as possible, and with his bomb gun under his arm 

 was yelling, "Haul in on the line !" There was no slacking 

 our speed for him, with half a chance to get in a shot! 



By night two whales were being worked on. That day's 

 excitement and sport was worth a hundred dollars to me, 

 for the whole thing was truly marvelous and it fully com- 

 pensates for all the discomfort and privation that I have 

 felt 



The cutting in and trying out of the blubber is a prosy 

 job, and nasty is no name for it. All hands strip down to 

 a shirt, a pair of overalls rolled up to the knees, showing 

 bare shins and sockless feet in large brogans, and in we go 

 grease from head to foot day and night until the whale 

 is all cut safely on board. If we tarried, bad weather would 

 no doubt deprive us of our spoil. 



It gives you a funny sensation at first to get into a deck- 

 ful of blubber, with the slimy stuff around your exposed 

 cuticle, and oil squashing out of your shoes at every step. 

 But I am getting used to that now, and I feel like a veteran. 

 . . . The try-works are run day and night, while there is 

 blubber to feed them, and the refuse scrap is all the fuel 

 they need, so it is very economical. They consist of two 

 large caldrons mounted in brick work, near the center of 

 the ship, and the whole structure is about six feet high. In 



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