now so much exhausted, that I could not have
kept my head above water any longer without its assistance. Just then I
heard a cheer, and the next time I rose on the swell, I looked quickly
round and saw the mate's boat making for the scene of action as fast as
a stout and willing crew could pull. In a few minutes more I was
clutched by the arm, and hauled into it. My comrades were next rescued,
and we thanked God when we found that none were killed, although one of
them had got a leg broken, and another an arm twisted out of joint.
They all, however, seemed to think that my escape was much more
wonderful than theirs; but I cannot say that I agreed with them in this.

We now turned our attention to the whale, which had dived again. As it
was now loose, we did not know, of course, where it would come up, so we
lay still awhile. Very soon up he came, not far from us, and as fierce
as ever.

"Now, lads, we _must_ get that whale," cried the mate; "give way with a
will."

The order was obeyed. The boat almost leaped over the swell, and,
before long, another harpoon was in the whale's back.

"Fast again, hurrah!" shouted the mate, "now for the lance."

He gave the monster two deep stabs while he spoke, and spouting the red
stream of life, it rolled on the sea in agony, obliging us to keep well
out of its way.

I could not look upon the dying struggles of this enormous fish without
feelings of regret and self-reproach, for helping to destroy it. I felt
almost as if I were a murderer, and that the Creator would call me to
account for taking part in the destruction of one of His grandest living
creatures. But the thought passed quickly from my mind as the whale
became more violent and went into its flurry. It began to lash the sea
with such astonishing violence, that all the previous struggles seemed
as nothing. The water all round became white like milk, with great
streaks of red blood running through it, and the sound of the quick
blows of its tail and fins resembled that of dull hollow thunder. We
gazed at this scene in deep silence and with beating hearts.

All at once the struggles ceased. The great carcass rolled over belly
up, and lay extended on the sea in death. To me it seemed as if a dead
calm had suddenly fallen around us, after a long and furious storm, so
great was the change when that whale at length parted with its huge
life. The silence was suddenly broken by three hearty cheers, and then,
fa