t upon one purpose, and evidently using every
means to screw their courage to the sticking-point, did not lack its
effect upon the young adventurers who found themselves, with so little
preparation or intent, swept on in this wild scene.

Once in a while Rob cast his eye about to see how his friends were
prospering. Jesse looked a little pale, yet both he and John were eager.
Crowded as they were both in one hatch, they could not paddle to much
effect, but the native in the bow managed to keep his place in the
procession. The first thought of Rob was that it was absolute folly to
think of killing so great a creature with the insignificant weapons
which he now saw ready for use.

As the chief began to approach the great whale more closely, he slowed
down the speed, creeping cautiously onward at times when his instinct
told him his boat was least apt to be discovered by the whale. The
latter seemed ignorant or careless of the approach. Now and again it
blew a vast spout of water into the air, and sometimes it rolled and
half lifted its vast bulk free of the water, until it seemed larger than
a house. The humming chorus of the Aleuts continued, but fell to a lower
note as the boats drew near.

For what seemed an interminable time the bidarka of the headman lay
silent, trembling and heaving on the swell of the choppy sea, while the
huntsman sat steadily and studied the giant quarry in front of him. Once
or twice he gently turned the prow of the bidarka, using the least
possible motion. Again, a few feet at a time, he would edge it on in,
pausing and crawling forward, his hand motioning back to Rob to be quiet
and steady.

Now the Aleut showed at his best. There was no fear or agitation in his
conduct. Without hesitation he gazed intently at the dark, glistening
bulk in front of him, apparently hunting for the exact spot which he
wished to strike--a point about a third of the way back from the angle
of the jaw. The whale itself seemed to be stupid, as though sleepy,
although now and again it rolled slowly from side to side as though
uneasy.

Like a cat the huntsman crept in and in toward his prey, scarce more
than an inch at a time, till at last Rob saw the boat reach a point
where the body of the whale seemed to tower above their heads.

Finally the hand of the chief was raised to signal Rob to stop paddling.

With his own paddle in his left hand clinched against the rim of the
bidarka hatch, the chief with his righ