ing in his wake and cutting the water like a thing of life--the
boat-steerer and line-tender carefully watching every movement, for the
lives of all on board depended on their vigilance. The whale struck his
course directly across the ship's bow, less than a mile away. The boat
Tite commanded followed, with all the strength her crew could put on
their oars.

It was easy to read in the captain's manner, however, that all was not
going well with the boats. He quickly ordered a third boat launched,
supplied with gear, and the best oarsmen on board to hold themselves
ready to man it.

"Thar'll be a fight when that ar whale rises," he muttered, rather than
spoke. "Wants a lance in the right place, and a man to put it there. Mr.
Higgins ain't the man for that work."

The boat's speed began to slacken. The sharp, whizzing sound, caused by
the rapid paying-out of the line and its great tension, gradually
subsided. It was evident the whale was coming up to blow, perhaps change
his course, perhaps attack his assailants. He had crossed the ship's
course, and the head boat was nearly two miles off the starboard bow,
the stern boat rapidly coming up.

The water just ahead of the boat began to quiver and curl into eddies,
then the huge monster lifted himself, as it were, high above the
surface, struck his flukes, and lashed the sea into a foam. This lasted
for several minutes, the boat pulling for him with all the strength of
her oarsmen. But when nearly alongside of the whale she suddenly
slackened her speed, then stopped, then went "astern hard." It was
evident to those on board the ship that something was wrong, for the
boat seemed to be manoeuvring more for her own safety than to gain a
position from which a lance could be hurled with effect.

"Too many landsmen in that boat!" said the old captain, who had been
carefully watching every movement through his glass; now hoping, now
fearing. He shook his head doubtingly, and paced the deck nervously for
several minutes. Then, as if there was something it was necessary for
him to set right, he turned to the officer of the watch, and ordered him
to have the third boat manned. In another minute he was standing in the
bow, lance in hand.

"Pull away for him, my hearty bullies," he said; and the men plied their
oars, and away the boat went, skimming over the water like a sea-bird.
There was resolution and courage depicted in every feature of that
bronzed face.

The whale had now