388 A SWIFT CHASE. 



fear; he braves death with ready heroism, though not 

 with imprudence. When the animal rises after his first 

 plunge, the " line-manager " slowly pulls upon the line, 

 and the fyoat draws towards the monster, cautiously, 

 without haste, and yet with sufficient quickness. How 

 many difficulties must be conquered, and sometimes how 

 long a delay must be endured, before another harpoon 

 can be thrown ! Yet it is not one, but ten, perhaps 

 twenty, which may be needed to ensure death ; while, 

 if a mortal wound be not inflicted in the first quarter of 

 an hour, the whale recovers from his alarm, regains his 

 senses, and takes to flight. Then comes the breathless, 

 rapid chase. The boat springs forward like an arrow, 

 darting between the waves as between two walls of 

 vapour. In vain the wounded monster would escape his 

 relentless pursuers ; he rises to the surface, he sinks, again 

 he rises, and every time he shows his gigantic bulk the 

 harpooneers drive in their lances to the depth of six or 

 seven feet. The water all around is dyed a deep dark 

 crimson ; even the neighbouring ice is stained with the 

 same ensanguined hue. These vigorous and deadly blows 

 no animal can long survive; and after a brief struggle, and 

 one last convulsive heaving of his enormous tail, the 

 ocean-leviathan, yielding to the superior force and skill 

 of his enemies, turns slowly over on his back, and expires, 

 amidst their shouts. 



The experiences of those who go down to the icy seas 

 in quest of their monsters are often of a most romantic 

 character. The perils they encounter are so numerous, 

 that gentlemen who live at home at ease may reasonably 

 wonder at the love of adventure and .the desire of gain 



