148 Another "Fall" called. 



have been lashed to the bulwarks round the fore 

 part of the upper deck. 



Thursday, June 26th. — We are without doubt 

 an extremely lucky ship. Last evening, whilst 

 cruising in company with another whaler, a fine fish 

 was seen lying alongside the edge of an extensive 

 field of pack ice. We immediately despatched a 

 couple of boats in pursuit, whilst our consort sent 

 three. 



After a short time the whale was seen to rise 

 close to one of the latter, but, wonderful to relate, 

 the harpooneer in charge, for some reason best 

 known to himself, failed to take advantage, and the 

 fish was not molested. 



Again did the captain from the crow's nest hail 

 to say that the other ship's boat would soon be 

 fast ; and again, to our great relief, was the oppor- 

 tunity missed. The next time the fish rose it was 

 close to one of our boats, in which was Jemmy Gray, 

 a sure and successful harpooneer, who, unlike his 

 opposite number in the other boats, quickly fired 

 and got fast. 



" A fall" was called (it was about 10 p.m.), and 

 it was amusing to witness " all hands " rushing up 

 from below, scantily clothed, with their bundles in 

 their hands, and tumbling, some of them head 

 foremost, in their anxiety to get into the boats. I 

 jumped into one, having the mate as harpooneer, 

 and we all pulled vigorously towards the fast boat, 

 which was entirely beset by ice, the other ship's 



