64 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
the capture of the young whale, before the water 
assumed the colour known to be the favourite resort 
of whales, and soon after, a fish being seen, boats 
were sent in pursuit ; the mate threw a harpoon at 
it, but without effect, it being eight or nine yards 
from him. All were now looking out, and I retired 
to my cabin at twelve o’clock, and, as usual, slept 
in my clothes, in anxious expectation of soon being 
roused by the noise of war with the mighty animal 
of whom we were in quest. 
At three o’clock my expectation was re- 
May 25 . fori was disturbed by such a noise, 
bustle, and confusion, that, had I not been acquainted 
with the cause, I should naturally have imagined, 
either that the crew had mutinied, the ship was on 
fire, or some inevitable destruction fast approach- 
ing. I arose and went on deck, and saw near us a 
boat with its jack flying, as a signal that a whale 
had been stricken ; the watch were stamping on the 
deck like madmen, while others, running to their 
separate boats, were exclaiming a fall ! a fall !” 
that is, a fish is fast, and all must turn out in pur- 
suit. This welcome summons brought the remain- 
der of the crew instantly upon the deck, when it 
was truly ludicrous to see them come from below, 
in their shirts, just as they had left their births, 
with their clothes under their arms, hurrying to their 
boats to dress themselves in them, whilst they were 
lowered from the cranes that suspended them over 
the sides of the ship. . The boats soon repaired to- 
wards the scene of action, and were arranged in dif- 
