n the whale's head, and Rokens
buried a harpoon deep in its side.

"Stern all!" thundered the captain.

The men obeyed, and the boat was backed off the whale just in time to
escape the blow of its tremendous flukes as it dived into the sea, the
blue depths of which were instantly dyed red with the blood that flowed
in torrents from the wound.

Down it went, carrying out the line at a rate that caused the chocks
through which it passed to smoke. In a few minutes the line ceased to
run out, and the whale returned to the surface. It had scarcely showed
its nose, when the slack of the line was hauled in, and a second harpoon
was fixed in its body.

Infuriated with pain, the mighty fish gave vent to a roar like a bull,
rolled half over, and lashed the sea with his flukes, till, all round
for many yards, it was churned into red slimy foam. Then he turned
round, and dashed off with the speed of a locomotive engine, tearing the
boat through the waves behind it, the water curling up like a white wall
round the bows.

"She won't stand that long," muttered Glynn Proctor, as he rested on his
oar, and looked over his shoulder at the straining line.

"That she will, boy," said the captain; "and more than that, if need be.
You'll not be long of havin' a chance of greasin' your fingers, I'll
warrant."

In a few minutes the speed began to slacken, and after a time they were
able to haul in on the line. When the whale again came to the surface,
a third harpoon was cleverly struck into it, and a spout of blood from
its blow-hole showed that it was mortally wounded. In throwing the
harpoon, Tim Rokens slipped his foot, and went down like a stone
head-foremost into the sea. He came up again like a cork, and just as
the boat flew past fortunately caught hold of Glynn Proctor's hand. It
was well that the grasp was a firm one, for the strain on their two arms
was awful. In another minute Tim was in his place, ready with his lance
to finish off the whale at its next rise.

Up it came again, foaming, breaching, and plunging from wave to wave,
flinging torrents of blood and spray into the air. At one moment he
reared his blunt gigantic head high above the sea; the next he buried
his vast and quivering carcase deep in the gory brine, carrying down
with him a perfect whirlpool of red foam. Then he rose again and made
straight for the boat. Had he known his own power, he might have soon
terminated the battle, and come off the vi