ager eyes. The boat makes a
circuit, so as to approach the monster in the rear; for if he sees them,
he will be off far down into the ocean, and may not rise for a long
distance away. With rapid strokes they pull on, but as noiselessly as
possible. The headmost boat is within ten fathoms of the fish--I am
sure it will be ours. The harpooner stands up in the bows with harpoon
in hand. Suddenly, with tail in air, down dives the monster; and the
faces of all around me assume an expression of black disappointment. It
must be remembered that, as all on board benefit by every fish which is
caught, all are interested in the capture of one.

"It's a loose fall, after all," said old David, who was near me. "I
thought so. I shouldn't be surprised if we went home with a clean ship
after all."

However, the boats did not return. Mr Todd was not a man to lose a
chance. Far too experienced ever to take his eye off a fish while it is
in sight, he marks the way she headed, and is off after her to the
eastward. With his strong arm he bends to the oar, and urges his men to
put forth all their strength, till the boat seems truly to fly over the
water. On they steadily pull, neither turning to the right hand nor to
the left for nearly half-an-hour. Were it not for the ice, their toil
would be useless; but the boat-steerer looks out, and points eagerly
ahead.

On they pull. Then on a sudden appears the mighty monster. She has
risen to the surface to breathe, a "fair start" from the boat. The
harpooner stands up, with his unerring weapon in his hand: when was it
ever known to miss its aim? The new-fangled gun he disdains. A few
strong and steady strokes, and the boat is close to the whale. The
harpoon is launched from his hank, and sinks deep into the oily flesh.

The boat is enveloped in a cloud of spray--the whole sea around is one
mass of foam. Has the monster struck her, and hurled her gallant crew
to destruction? No; drawn rapidly along, her broad bow ploughing up the
sea, the boat is seen to emerge from the mist with a jack flying as a
signal that she is fast, while the mighty fish is diving far below it,
in a vain effort to escape.

Now arose from the mouth of every seaman on deck the joyful cry of "A
fall, a fall!" at the same time that every one jumped and stamped on
deck, to arouse the sleepers below to hasten to the assistance of their
comrades. We all then rushed to the boat-falls.

Never, apparently,