ON TEE "LINE" GROUNDS. 217 



We gained a good weather-gage, rounded to, and 

 lowered four boats. Getting away in good style, we had 

 barely got the sails up, when something gallied the 

 school. We saw or heard nothing to account foi it, but 

 undoubtedly the " fish " were off at top speed dead to wind- 

 ward, so that our sails were of no use. We had them 

 in with as little delay as possible, and lay to our oars 

 for all we were worth, being fresh and strong, as well as 

 anxious to get amongst them. But I fancy all our 

 efforts would have availed us little had it not been for 

 the experience of Mr. Cruce, whose eager eye detected 

 the fact that the fish were running on a great curve, 

 and shaped our course to cut them off along a chord of 

 the arc. 



Two and a half hours of energetic work was required 

 of us before we got on terms with the fleeing monsters ; 

 but at last, to our great joy, they broke water from 

 sounding right among us. It was a considerable sur- 

 prise, but we were all ready, and before they had spouted 

 twice, three boats were fast, only myself keeping out, in 

 accordance with my instructions. Samuela was almost 

 distraught with r;ige and grief at the condition of things. 

 I quite pitied him, although I was anything but pleased 

 myself. However, when I ranged up alongside the mate's 

 fish, to render what assistance was needed, he shouted to 

 me, ** We's all right ; go'n git fas', if yew kin." That 

 was enough, and away we flew after a retreating spout 

 to leeward. Before we got there, though, there was an 

 upheaval in the water just ahead, and up came a back 

 like a keelless ship bottom up. Out came the head 

 belonging to it, and a spout like an explosion burst forth, 

 denoting the presence of an enormous bull-cachalot. 

 Close by his side was a cow of about one-third his size. 



