Chap. XI. KILLING A WHALE-THE " FLURRY." 329 
said to be. The quick obedience to his instant order 
of " starn all — lay off !" saves the boat from annihila- 
tion, as the whale swings round its huge tail out of 
water, and brings it down with a tremendous report. 
She then " breaches," or leaps, and plunges in every 
direction ; the headsman continues to direct his crew 
and boat-steerer, while he poises a new lance, and 
keeps just out of the vortex formed by her evolutions ; 
the assistant boat and a third one have come up, and, 
being all of one party, watch outside the splashing for 
the best chance. One goes in, and having fixed a 
lance, receives a blow which smashes the boat and two 
men's legs ; the third boat picks up the men ; our 
hrst man at last gets steered into the vortex, gives a 
well-aimed lance in the life, and retreats from the 
foam, which receives a roseate hue. The monster leaps 
out of the sea, flourishing her tail and fins, and strikes 
the water with a noise as loud as cannon. She wrig- 
gles, and plunges, and twists, more furiously than 
ever, and splashes blood over the boat's crew, who 
still restrain their excitement and remain collected in 
all that they do. She is now in her "flurry;" — she 
is said to " spout thick blood ;" and is a sure prize. 
The boat, by great good management, escapes all 
accident ; and the headsman chuckles as he cuts a 
notch on the loggerhead, and gives the crew a " tot 
" all round," promising the novice that he will have to 
treat the party to a gallon to-night, in order to pay his 
footing on killing his first fish. 
If the tide is favourable, all the boats of the party 
assemble, and tow the whale home ; if unfavourable, 
she is anchored for the night ; and the boats reach the 
ways at dusk. A drunken rejoicing lasts till the middle 
of the night ; the headsmen meet in the principal ware 
at supper, and spin long yarns about their old whaling 
