mate order another boat to be lowered
to go to their assistance. But they did not require any. Two of the
men could not swim, but the others supported them till they got them up
to the boat, from which they had been a little way separated, and then
by pressing down the gunwale they quickly righted her. They then,
holding on on either side, baled away till they could get into her, and
still have her gunwale above water, when they very quickly freed her
altogether. Everything had been secured in the boat, so that nothing
was lost; and as soon as she was to right, off she started again in the
chase.

Away flew the captain's boat, dragged on by the line, at the rate, it
seemed, of full ten knots an hour. The other boats followed as fast as
their crews could lay their backs to the oars; but for a long time they
could gain nothing on him, but were fast falling astern. We had again
filled, and were standing on. At last he began to slacken his pace.
The loss of blood from his many wounds, and his evident exertions, were
rapidly weakening him. Still, so far-off had he gone, that the
captain's boat was scarce to be seen, and the others were mere specks on
the ocean.

Once again, however, we were overtaking them. The captain was once more
hauling in the slack--the other boats were getting up--the headsmen
standing, harpoon in hand, ready to give the whale fresh and still more
deadly wounds. They ranged up alongside, and harpoons and lances flew
from the boats. The monster no longer threw up water alone, but blood
was sent in a thick spout from his blow-hole, sprinkling the men in the
boats, and staining the bright blue sea around. Still, in spite of all
his foes, he struggled on bravely for life. Lashing the water, so as to
drive his relentless assailants to a distance, he once more lifted his
flukes and sounded; but they were prepared to let the lines run. Down
he went again.

"He'll be lost--he'll be lost!" I exclaimed, as did others not
accustomed to the work.

"Not a bit of it on that account," said old Knowles. "He can't remain
long under water after what he's gone through. He'll be up again soon;
and then stand by, my hearties, for his flurry!"

Old Knowles was right. Up came the whale again, at a short distance
only from where he had gone down, having dragged out from each boat not
a hundred fathoms of line. Once more the boats approached, and fresh
lances were darted into him; but they quickly had