. 61.]

"There he blows!" he cried suddenly. "Let's try for him again."

"No more of that," roared the captain. "Not while I'm alive on this
boat." Jim smiled. He had not really intended to go after him in the
boat because he realized how foolhardy such a performance would be,
but he had another scheme in mind, and he prepared to carry it out.

"Come on, boys, let's give him a shot from the cannon," he cried.

"That's the idea!" exclaimed Juarez. "We will bring the ship up close
enough to get a good aim."

"I'd like to get even with him for the kick he gave me," cried Jo
viciously.

"Well, you boys are the beatingest," remarked the captain.

But he made no objection to this plan, and took the wheel himself, so
as to maneuver the _Sea Eagle_ to within good striking distance of
the big mammal. Meanwhile, the boys lost no time in getting the small
cannon ready for the fray. All was excitement and energy. Here was a
target worth shooting at. The whale seemed to be resting after his
recent exertions, and was rolling easily on the surface of the ocean.

Tom stripped the jacket of canvas from the shining gun of brass,
Juarez and Jo got the ammunition from the hold, and soon had the
charge ready to fire. Jim stood prepared to aim. The boys waited
impatiently for the right moment to come, when the yacht would be
as close to the quarry as it would be wise to venture. Steadily the
little ship bore down toward the whale, keeping half quartered to it.

It seemed that he must take alarm and the boys held their breath
in fear lest the monster should take fright and make a sudden
disappearance into the depths. The harpoon still sticking high up on
his side gave a line to aim by. Then Jim depressed the muzzle of the
cannon until it was point blank at the long black target now shelving
up from the blue surface of the ocean. Just as the whale wakened to
his danger, Jim pulled the lanyard and fired. There was a roar, a
white gush of smoke, and the shell tore into the vitals of the great
whale.

Then there was action to which the disturbance when the whale was
harpooned was a mere flurry. He thrashed the ocean into foam and the
blood from his wound dyed the waters crimson. At last he rose bodily
in the air and fell back upon the surface of the ocean with a mighty
whack that could have been heard for miles. The waters retreated from
his fall in great waves that made the little steamer rock.

There was great jubilation on the dec