WHALERS AND WHALING. 



deck. "Two points on the weather bow." "Keep your eye on her," 

 shouts the Captain, "sing out when we head her right." As soon 

 as the vessel is near enough to the prize the Captain gives the order 

 to " stand by, and lower the boats." Sometimes two or three will 

 go for one whale, and often there is a most exciting race between 

 two boats belonging to different ships, for the one that first gets a 

 harpoon in, and makes fast to the whale, claims the prize. Off they 

 go, these brave fellows, rowing with all their might and main towards 

 the monster spouting in the distance, who with one whisk of his 

 enormous tail can send them all to Kingdom Come. 



The boatheader watches his chance as they draw near, and 

 hurls the barbed harpoon, which has a small but very strong rope 

 attached. The head of the weapon turns as it enters the whale's 

 side, and fastens itself there the moment the rope is pulled taut, 

 and in this way the boat is made fast to the whale. The mate in 



45 



