the whale!" cried Andy.
"Maybe he's hurt, or perhaps there's a harpoon with a line fast to it
in him. We might get hold of it and--"

"Yes, and go to kingdom come. Nixy! Get out of the way while you've
got time. Jinks! He's coming on faster than ever!"

Frank's manner so impressed his brother that the younger lad now began
to swing his craft around. They could both see the whale plainly now,
even while sitting down, for the great sea animal was nearer.

Then, whether it was some sudden whim, or because he saw the boats and
took them for natural enemies, there was a sudden swirling of water and
the whale increased his speed, heading straight for the two skiffs that
were now almost touching side by side.

"He's coming!" yelled Andy.

"I told you he was!" cried Frank. "Row! Row! Get out of the way!"

This was more easily said than done. In vain did the lads pull
frantically on their oars. The whale was now coming on with the speed
of an express train. He was headed right for the two boats!

"Pull out! Pull out!" shouted Andy. "He may go between us then!"

It was good advice, and Frank, who was a little the better rower,
started to follow it.

But it was too late. On came the monster of the deep, his great head
throwing up a huge wave in front of him. Andy was rowing as hard as
was his brother until he suddenly jumped his left oar out of the
oarlock. In another moment it had gone overboard.

This seemed to attract the attention of the whale to the skiff of the
younger lad. The monster might have thought that the occupant of the
boat was trying to hurl a harpoon.

Suddenly changing his course, the leviathan, which had been headed for
Frank's craft, now turned toward Andy's.

"Look out!" frantically shouted the older lad.

"I can't! He's got me!" screamed Andy.

The next instant there was a splintering, crashing and rending of wood.
A shower of spray flew high in the air. Frank's boat rocked on the
heavy swell caused by the flukes of the whale, as they went deep into
the water after delivering a glancing blow upon the unfortunate Andy's
skiff.

Frank had a momentary glance of his brother's boat, with one side
smashed down to the water's edge. He saw the green sea pouring in, and
he saw Andy standing up, ready to leap overboard. He saw the maddened
monster sheering off out to sea again, and then Frank cried:

"I'm coming, Andy! I'm coming! I'll save you! Hold on to your boat!
Don't