ght against a head sea which, as she
ploughed through it, was formed in a high bank of surf on either side,
while she was almost concealed by the showers of spray flying over her.
The second mate, who was at some distance, seeing the whale coming,
pulled up in time to shoot his weapon into its side, when both boats,
being fast, were towed almost as rapidly as had been the captain's. In
vain the boats attempted to haul up closer, so as to strike their lances
more deeply into the animal.

Tom and Gerald, borrowing spy-glasses, ran aloft to watch the
proceedings, but at so great a speed had the whale gone that, in a short
time, neither it nor the beats could be seen by the naked eye. From the
mast-head the midshipmen could just observe three objects like specks
upon the ocean, and at length they entirely disappeared beyond the
horizon. The wind had now freshened.

"We must go and lend a hand," said Tom, "as I suppose the second mate
will beat the ship up to the boats."

They accordingly descended; but before they were half-way down, the
fearful cry reached their ears of "A man overboard!" On looking astern
they saw him struggling in the waves. Who he was they could not tell.
Hastening to the deck, they found the helm put down, the hands raising
tacks and sheets to bring the ship about. In the mean time some oars
and a hen-coop had been hove into the sea, but the man, whoever he was,
seemed to have very little notion of swimming, as his efforts to reach
them were unavailing. Tom's first impulse was to leap overboard.
Gerald, holding him back, exclaimed, "You could not save the poor
fellow; he would carry you down, if you attempted to get near him."

"But I could tow the hen-coop up to him," said Tom.

"Stay where you are, young gentleman," said the doctor. "See! there is
a man gone to his assistance;" and they then caught sight of a Sandwich
Islander in the water. He had slipped quietly overboard and was making
his way towards the drowning man. Just then the sun dipped beneath the
horizon, looking angry and red, while the sky threatened a stormy night.
Only one small boat remained, which was lowered immediately; the ship
was brought to, and Tom, with Desmond, Jerry, and two of the crew,
jumped into her; but by this time they had lost sight both of the
drowning man and the Sandwich Islander. The sea, which was every moment
getting up, broke over the bows of the boat as they pulled towards the
spot where the m