MS ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. XI. 
tk>n of the frightened whale. Now he gives directions 
to " haul in," when the line slackens ; now says 
" veer away again," as the fish takes a new start ; and 
ever and anon terrifies the new hand, who can't tell 
what's going to happen, into a sort of resignation. 
The others seem to think the " running " rather a 
relief from work than anything else ; they positively 
look as if they would smoke their pipes, were it not 
against all rule. 
The whale rapidly takes the line, — and the 200 
fathoms in the boat are nearly exhausted by its sudden 
determination to try the depth of water, technically 
called " sounding ;" — but another boat of the same 
party, which had " hove up," or peaked her oars, when 
the chase was resigned to the two, comes up in answer 
to a whiff hoisted by our boat, and fixes a new harpoon 
in the whale as she rises to take breath. She soon 
becomes exhausted with her efforts, runs less rapidly, 
and rises more frequently to the surface ; and the heads- 
man at last foresees the lucky moment. 
" Come aft ! " he cries ; and he and the boat-steerer 
change places. The boat ceases her progress as the 
whale stops to rest. "Down oars, — give way!" are 
the orders given in sharp, clear tones ; and the crew, at 
least the old hands, know that he is nerved for his 
work by the decision apparent in his voice, and the 
way in which he balances the sharp, bright, oval- 
pointed lance. 
The whale seems to sleep on the surface ; but she 
is slowly preparing for a move as the boat comes up. 
He follows her every movement. " A steady pull ! 
" Row dry, boys ! — lay on ! Pull two, back three ! — 
" lay on ! head of all ! lay me alongside !" and, as the 
whale slowly rolls one fin out of water, the lance flies 
a good foot into the spot below where the " life" is 
