'she blows !' 63 



it a few times around the stout wooden bollard or logger- 

 head that was built into the small triangular platform in 

 the stern. When about fifty fathom had run out of the 

 tub he took two more turns with the line and gripped it 

 firmly in his hands. At once the boat began to plane over 

 the surface in tow of the whale and the crests of the long 

 swell plucked at the taut hempen line making it quiver 

 like a bowstring and drop little white curtains of droplets. 



The white plume under the boat's bows grew smaller 

 and it became obvious to Jonathan that the whale was 

 slackening speed. The strain on the line eased and the 

 crew, who had shipped their oars as soon as the wild ride 

 had begun, now commenced hauling in on the line. 



Meanwhile Todd had moved from the stern to the bow 

 and Chimoo, having accomplished the first and most im- 

 portant part of his duties as harpooner, had taken the 

 mate's place in the stern where he coiled down the line as 

 it was hauled in by the rest of the crew. 



When the boat was only a few fathoms away from the 

 whale the men manned their oars and with Todd waving 

 instructions to Chimoo the boat was brought into a favour- 

 able position for the attack with the lance. Todd, 

 gnome-like in a pointed woollen hat, stood ready with his 

 weapon lifted at arm's length. Then the whale sounded 

 but its strength was waning fast and it could not remain 

 below the water for more than a few minutes. When it 

 broke surface the boat leapt towards it like a hungry lean 

 beast of prey and this time Todd's lance found its mark, 

 for the monster spouted red and with a final lash of its 

 tail rolled over and died. 



With a cheer from the men who were still at work on the 

 repairs, the Pilgrim closed in upon the scene and the whale 

 was secured alongside. 



Jonathan in his perch aloft kept watch for more whales 

 but this seemed to be the only one in the area, which 

 indeed was not surprising seeing that the Greenland right 



