S AWAY.

As the voyagers were anxious to reach the creature which lay before
them, they got out the oars, the mate and Nub pulling, while Walter
steered.

"I see some harpoons and spears sticking in the creature's back,"
exclaimed Walter.

"They will be of use, if we cannot get anything else from it, as we
shall be able to kill any dolphins or bonitoes which swim near us," said
the mate.

"I tink me get some slices of meat out of de back of de creature," said
Nub. "We no want food now."

"We shall find it rather high-flavoured and somewhat tough," observed
the mate; "but it will keep body and soul together; and we must not be
particular."

Walter, though very hungry, felt no inclination to eat whale's blubber,
especially if the creature had been dead for some time,--though he had
heard that the Eskimos consider it dainty food, and eat it in vast
quantities. Poor Alice, who had been unable to swallow the mixture of
flying-fish and oil, shuddered at the thought.

"I see a quantity of gear hanging about the creature's head," said
Walter; "and that makes me suppose that it must have been fast to a
ship. If so, it cannot be a fish my father has struck; and some other
whaler besides ours must be in the neighbourhood."

"I am of your mind," said the mate. "We shall know for certain, when we
get alongside, by the harpoons. However, the idea gives me hope that we
shall obtain assistance before long."

The voyagers were gradually approaching the monster, which was certainly
not a sperm whale, though it was of enormous size, floating far higher
out of the water than does that creature. They therefore came to the
conclusion that it was of a rare and hitherto unknown species. (Note
1.) A quantity of gear with some large floats hung about its head,
while the harpoons sticking in it had their lines attached. The only
way to account for this was, that the people who had attacked it had
fancied that it was dead, and that it had suddenly revived and broken
loose from them.

The whale was soon reached, when the raft was made fast to a couple of
the harpoon-lines which hung from its body. It was no easy matter to
climb to the top of its back; but the mate, bidding Alice remain on the
raft, hauled himself up by the lines which hung from it, Walter and Nub
following his example. On reaching the top of the whale's back, the
mate examined the flag.

"This is an American piece of bunting," he exclaimed. "It shows with