The day was drawing to a close when another whale was seen floating idly
close to us. The possibility of obtaining another rich prize was not to
be lost. Mr Brand had served for three years in a whaler, and was now
doing duty as mate. He ordered a boat to be manned. Jerry and I
entreated that we might accompany him. "One only can go," he answered;
"I am very sorry." The lot fell upon me. Jerry was never jealous.
"Old Surley and I will take care of each other," he answered. Away we
went. A long, low island was in sight from the mast-head. The other
boats could nowhere be seen. We got up to the whale before she sounded.
I fancy she was asleep. The harpoon Mr Brand shot into her awakened
her up. Off she went in the direction of the land, at a great rate. I
wished Jerry had been with us. It was so pleasant to be dragged along
at so furious a rate, the foam flying over the bows of the boat.
Formerly harpoons were always darted by the hand. Now fire-arms are
used. The butt of the harpoon is placed in the barrel, and the rope is
attached to it by a chain. Less skill and strength is required to
strike the whale, but just as much skill and experience is requisite to
avoid being struck in return and smashed to atoms by the wounded animal.
Whenever the whale slackened her speed, we hauled up in the hope of
getting another harpoon into her, but she was soon off again; then she
sounded, and we were nearly losing our line. Again she rose; a second
harpoon was run into her. Off she was again. At length blood mingled
with the foam from her spouts. With fury she lashed the water around.
"Back! back for your lives!" shouted Mr Brand. Well it was that we got
out of her way in time. One blow from those tremendous flukes would
have destroyed us.

Loudly we shouted as the monster lay an inanimate mass on the surface of
the deep. Then we looked about us. We had approached close to the
island, but darkness was settling down over the face of the waters. The
ship was not to be seen. Clouds were gathering thickly in the sky. A
gale, we feared, was brewing. Our safest plan was to lie by all night
under the lee of the whale. The wind came from the very direction where
we believed the ship to be. We should never be able to pull against it.
We had got out our harpoons from the dead whale, and were putting our
gear in order, when, just as we were going to make fast to it, the huge
mass sunk from our sight! We looked a