54 A YEAR WITH A WHALER 



a boat was lowered for them. I expected it 

 would be difficult to get within darting distance. 

 .What was my surprise to see the turtles, with 

 heads in the air and perfectly aware of their dan- 

 ger, remain upon the surface until the boat was 

 directly upon them. The fact was they could 

 not go under quickly; the big shells kept them 

 afloat. Long John dropped his harpoon crash- 

 ing through the shell of one of the turtles, flopped 

 it into the boat, and then went on without par- 

 ticular hurry, and captured the other two in the 

 same way. The cabin feasted for several days on 

 the delicate flesh of the turtles; the forecastle got 

 only a savory smell from the galley, as was usual. 



We ran into a school of porpoises on another 

 occasion — hundreds of them rolling and tumb- 

 ling about the ship, like fat porkers on a frolic. 

 Little Johnny took a position on the forecastle 

 head with a harpoon, the line from which had 

 been made fast to the fore-bitt. As a porpoise 

 rose beneath him, he darted his harpoon straight 

 into its back. The sea pig went wriggling un- 

 der, leaving the water dyed with its blood. It was 

 hauled aboard, squirming and twisting. Little 



