HUNTING WHITE WHALES 



throw the iron. With disappointed faces the men re- 

 turned and climbed the rock where we were sitting. 

 We watched until six o'clock but no more porpoises 

 appeared, and I was glad when we reached the boat 

 for the wind cut like a knife as it drove across the 

 hilltop. The cabin was so small that we could not 



The posterior part of a white whale. The entire animal is snow 

 white except for a narrow edging of brown on the flukes 

 and flippers. The young of this species are entirely brown. 



sit upright and it was next to impossible to move 

 when we were all there together; however, it was 

 warm and that was something. After our dinner of 

 stew, made from potatoes and onions, we packed our- 

 selves away for the night, each on a narrow board 

 which served as a bunk. 



Next morning I was awakened by the regular lap, 

 lap ; lap of the water against the bows, and knew that 



271 



