262 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



them before they could dart the harpoon with any chance 

 of success, and the consequence was, that the school of 

 whales separated, and went off with great swiftness in dif- 

 ferent directions. One, however, after making several 

 turns, came at length right toward the captain's boat, 

 which he observing waited in silence for his approach, 

 without moving an oar ; so that the young bull came close 

 by his boat, and received the blow of the harpoon some 

 distance behind his hump, and so near to the ship as to be 

 seen by all on board. 



"The whale appeared quite terror-struck for a few 

 seconds, and then suddenly recovering itself darted off like 

 the wind, and spun the boat so quickly round that, when the 

 tug came upon the line she was within a miracle of being 

 upset. But away they went dead to windward, at the rate 

 of twelve pr fifteen miles an hour, right against a head sea, 

 which flew against and over the bows of the boat with un- 

 common force, so that she at times appeared to be plough- 

 ing through it, making a high bank of surf on each side. 



" The second mate, having observed the course of the 

 whale and boat, managed to waylay them ; and when they 

 came near to him, which they speedily did, a f short warp ' 

 was thrown, and both boats were soon towed at nearly the 

 same rate as the captain's boat had been before. 



"The captain was now seen darting the lance at the 

 whale as it almost flew along, but he did not seem to do 

 so with any kind of effect, as the speed of the whale did 



