few minutes later and a dozen of the
followers were up and prepared to act, but they all held back--all
except the excitable Anders--while the chief and his son glided
cautiously towards the fish, one on either side. Suddenly each grasped
a spear and drove it with all the force of both arms deep into the
whale's flesh. It was a rude awaking! Of course the fish dived
instantly. In doing so it flung its tail on high with a superb sweep,
sending tons of water, and the impatient Anders, into the air.

The interpreter came down in a cataract of spray, with his kayak doubled
up but himself uninjured, while the Eskimos greeted the event with a
shout of alarm. This changed into laughter when it was found that the
ambitious man was none the worse for his toss; and the women in one of
the oomiak; paddling quickly up, hauled the drenched and crestfallen man
out of the sea. They also picked up his spear with the sealskin buoy
attached. Giving him the place of honour in the bow, they put the spear
in his hand, and bade him keep up heart and do better next time.

Meanwhile the whale, having got over its first surprise, and feeling the
two large sealskin-floats a somewhat heavy as well as unusual drag, soon
came again to the surface, not far from the spot where Leo lay on his
oars, an amused as well as interested spectator of the scene.

"Ho!" shrieked Oblooria, whose eager little heart was easily excited.
She pointed to the fish, and gazed at Leo with blazing eyes.

You may be sure our hero did not lose time. The india-rubber boat
leaped over the water as if it had suddenly been endowed with life. The
smart little woman carefully arranged the spear and buoy ready to hand.
Several of the kayaks which chanced to be nearest to the whale rushed
towards it like sword-fish; but they had no chance, Leo being so near.
He did not check his speed on reaching the fish, but allowed the boat to
run tilt on its back. The smooth india-rubber glided up on the slippery
surface till more than half its length was on the creature's back. It
was thus checked without a shock--probably unfelt by the whale.

Leo seized the spear, leaped up, and, with both hands, drove it deep
into the flesh, just as the chief and his son had done. The force with
which he drove it was so great that it thrust the boat back into the
water. This was fortunate, for it enabled them narrowly to escape the
vortex that was instantly made by the diving of the now enr