136 THE WHALE HUNTERS 



dripping strip reached from the whale right up to the 

 maintop. Jamie, armed with a broad-bladed sword, 

 stepped up and hacked a hole in that portion which was 

 level with his arm and the second hook and tackle was 

 made fast. 



'Stand back!' cried Jamie and with a few sweeps of his 



^ heblubber-Jwok 



sword severed the blubber in twain so that the upper 

 portion, the first 'blanket piece,' swung free on the one 

 tackle whilst leaving the next piece to be hoisted by the 

 other. 



As each 'blanket piece' was cut it was lowered through a 



