sed
them straight, up in the air, and waited for further orders. We
expected the whale would rise near to where we were, and thought it
best to rest and look out.

While we were waiting, Tom Lokins, who was harpooner of the boat, sat
just behind me with all his irons ready. He took this opportunity to
explain to me that by a "hundred-barrel fish" is meant a fish that will
yield a hundred barrels of oil. He further informed me that such a
fish was a big one, though he had seen a few in the North-West Seas
that had produced upwards of two hundred barrels.

I now observed that the other boats had separated, and each had gone
after a different whale. In a few minutes the fish we were in chase of
rose a short distance off, and sent up two splendid water-spouts high
into the air, thus showing that he was what the whalers call a "right"
whale. It is different from the sperm whale, which has only one
blowhole, and that a little one.

We rowed towards it with all our might, and as we drew near, the
captain ordered Tom Lokins to "stand up", so he at once laid in his
oar, and took up the harpoon. The harpoon is an iron lance with a
barbed point. A whale-line is attached to it, and this line is coiled
away in a tub. When we were within a few yards of the fish, which was
going slowly through the water, all ignorant of the terrible foes who
were pursuing him, Tom Lokins raised the harpoon high above his head,
and darted it deep into its fat side just behind the left fin, and next
moment the boat ran aground on the whale's back.

[Illustration: "TOM LOKINS RAISED THE HARPOON"]

"Stern all, for your lives!" roared the captain, who, before his order
was obeyed, managed to give the creature two deep wounds with his
lance. The lance has no barbs to its point, and is used only for
wounding after the harpoon is fixed.

The boat was backed off at once, but it had scarcely got a few yards
away when the astonished fish whirled its huge body half out of the
water, and, coming down with a tremendous clap, made off like lightning.

The line was passed round a strong piece of wood called the
"logger-head", and, in running out, it began to smoke, and nearly set
the wood on fire. Indeed, it would have done so, if a man had not kept
constantly pouring water upon it. It was needful to be very cautious
in managing the line, for the duty is attended with great danger. If
any hitch should take place, the line is apt to catch the boat