OF THE SPERM WHALE, 
163 
to descend, or he hears the boats approaching. The 
few people left on board, and who are anxiously watch- 
ing the whale and the gradual approach of the boats, 
exclaim, “ ah, he is going down !” yet he spouts again, 
but slowly, the water is again seen agitated around him, 
the spectators on board with breathless anxiety think 
they perceive his “ small ” rising in preparation for his 
descent ; “ he will be lost,” they exclaim, for the boats 
are not yet near enough to strike him— -and the men are 
still bending their oars in each boat with all their 
strength, to claim the honour of the first blow with the 
harpoon. The bow-boat has the advantage of being the 
nearest to the whale ; the others, for fear of disturbing 
the unconscious monster, are now doomed to drop 
astern. One more spout is seen slowly curling forth, 
— it is his last, this rising,— his “ small ” is bent, his 
enormous tail is expected to appear every instant, 
but the boat shoots rapidly alongside of the gigantic 
creature. “ Peak your oars,” exclaims the mate, and 
directly they flourish in the air ; the glistening harpoon 
is seen above the head of the harpooneer, in an instant 
it is darted with unerring force and aim, and is buried 
deeply in the side of the huge animal. It is “ socket 
up;” that is, it is buried in his flesh up to the socket 
which admits the handle or “pole” of the harpoon. 
A cheer from those in the boats, and from the seamen 
on board, reverberates along the still deep at the same 
moment. The sea, which a moment before was unruffled, 
now becomes lashed into foam by the immense strength 
of the wounded whale, w 7 ho with his vast tail strikes in 
