386 PURSUIT OF THE WHALE. 



filled with active enthusiasm. The ship lays her sails 

 aback, so that she seems a " painted ship upon a painted 

 ocean." Two boats are lowered, and sent in immediate 

 pursuit. They start off with such velocity that they 

 seem* to skiin the waves ; a space of one or two miles lies 

 between them and their coveted prize 



But the whale has plunged downwards, and is no 

 longer visible. The oars are raised ; and the men, rest- 

 ing on the handles, hold themselves prepared to renew 

 their exertions at the slightest signal. Standing erect, 

 one at the bow and the other at the stern, the mate and 

 the harpoon eer, with outstretched neck and fixed gaze, 

 watch the surface of the water to detect the reappearance 

 of the great "fish." It is under such circumstances as 

 these, says a writer, that a man shows the stuff he is 

 made of. Any want of skill, or deficiency in nerve, 

 might cause the destruction of the whole crew ; and they 

 are strengthened and kept steady by the steadiness of 

 their officer. Soon an oily wave enlarges in a circle, and 

 subdues the light ripples raised by the passing breeze ; 

 the whale is rising ! The officer casts a significant glance 

 at his harpooneer; a single word, "Attention !" uttered in 

 a low whisper, keeps his men on the alert, and at a wave 

 of the hand, the oars resume their rapid but regular 

 beat. 



At first the whale presents the extremity of his black 

 broad snout ; then he skims the water with his vents, and 

 two jets of vapour rise, to be dissolved in the atmosphere. 

 Onward sweeps the colossal bulk ; from minute to minute 

 the huge head is raised ; another spout escapes ; after 

 the seventh or eighth he gradually bares the long ridge of 

 his colossal back, balances the enormous tail, and then 



