CHAPTER XXII 



THE STRANDED WHALE 



OUR fourth and last whale gave us quite a 

 bit of trouble. We sighted this fellow 

 spouting in a choppy sea among ice is- 

 lands two or three miles off the edges of the 

 polar pack. All three boats lowered for it. It 

 was traveling slowly in the same direction the 

 brig was sailing and about two miles from the 

 vessel. It took the boats some time to work to 

 close quarters. When the mate's boat was al- 

 most within striking distance, the whale went 

 under. As frightened whales usually run 

 against the wind, Mr. Winchester steered to 

 windward. But the whale had not been fright- 

 ened; it had not seen the boats. Consequently 

 it failed to head into the wind, but did the un- 

 expected by coming up to leeward, blowing with 



evident unconcern. This brought it nearest td 



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