A Sportsman 335 



slowly in single file, so slowly that it was easy to ap- 

 proach them. When near, the leading crew approached 

 with great caution, avoiding the slightest splash 

 or noise, but urging their boat at the greatest possible 

 speed. 



The largest leading killer was selected, which sunk 

 itself moderatel)- in the water so that the boat passed 

 over it, and at this critical moment the harpooner 

 threw his weapon with all his power. As the harpoon 

 struck, the boat was backed with all possible speed, 

 but none too soon, as the killer immediately leaped 

 six or seven feet clear from the water, and then 

 dropped back with a resounding crash, sending heavy 

 waves after the boat. The moment the killer fell 

 to the water it sounded, tearing the rope from the 

 coil with such velocity that it fairly smoked from 

 the friction at the run out; several hundred yards 

 were taken in this way, when the killer, evidently 

 grounding, came up with terrific rapidity near the boat, 

 which the dragging of the rope was of trifling im- 

 portance in retarding. As the killer reached the 

 surface, it came entirely out of the water again, 

 falling back with a crash from its own weight. As 

 it fell, it lashed the surface water to foam with its 

 powerful tail, doubling itself up, and striking out 

 frantically in its efforts to cast away the impaling 

 harpoon. As it straightened, its flashing tail woiold 

 strike on the surface with a noise like the report 

 of a musket. Finding it could not disengage itself 

 from the harpoon, it commenced to swim around 

 in a circle with its back exposed, as if looking for 

 its enemy. Meantime the natives, not alarmed, hauled 

 in the slack with all their might. 



