VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
71 
On receiving a harpoon from a boat near us, the 
whale descended perpendicularly with prodigious 
velocity; but, on its returning to the surface, we 
could distinguish at a great depth, that it was com- 
ing in a direction towards the spot we had taken. 
Our undaunted harpooner thus cheered the crew, 
“ give way, my lads, to pull upon her back ; never 
mind yourselves.” I was placed at the stern of the 
boat, which was very narrow, and was standing upon 
some loose ropes. The whale arose with all the 
grandeur imaginable, making a column of water 
appear to boil around it, by its great bulk, and 
rapidity of ascent, at a boat’s length from us. On 
raising its monstrous head, and ejecting a loud and 
powerful blast, I fired a charge of small shot into it, 
as the only means in my power to contribute to- 
wards securing the prize. At the same time, the 
harpooner plunged his weapon up to the socket in 
its back, which caused the fish to make a most con- 
vulsive exertion to disengage itself, driving the boat 
with such extraordinary force against a piece of fiat 
ice, that it was astonishing it was not dashed to 
pieces. From the insecure situation in which I was 
standing, having scarcely taken the gun from my 
shoulder, I was thrown by the effect of the concus- 
sion over the boat-steerer*s oar, and fell upon the 
ice, but this fortunately being covered with snow, 
I received no injury. Instantly recovering myself, 
I attempted to regain the boat, but the fish had 
drawn it out of reach, so that I was left to make my 
observations, the whale being within a few yards of 
