k of the _Sea Eagle_ when
Jim made that shot, which was not so remarkable either, when one
considers the size of the target and the nearness of the object aimed
at. But the captain was decidedly enthusiastic over Jim's success,
and clapped him heartily on the back with manifest approval.

"You ought to be in the navy, lad," he cried. "You are a born American
gunner. Old Paul Jones ought to have had you."

"That wasn't a hard shot, Captain," remarked Jim. "It was your
navigating that really deserves the credit."

"Too bad we have to leave him," said the captain. "That fellow would
be good for a lot of oil."

"I should like a closer look at him," urged Jim. "I believe I'll lower
the other boat and board him."

"I reckon he can't do you any harm now, Skipper," said the captain,
"and I suppose a whale does look cur'us to you. I see by that harpoon
that you made a pretty good shot with the iron; just a little nearer
to the shoulder and you would have fetched him."

The boat was all ready to lower and in a jiffy they had it in the
water. Tom was allowed to go along this time, but Jeems Howell was
among the missing, he absolutely and steadfastly refused to go on
the excursion.

"Come along, Jeems," urged Jo. "You never saw a dead whale."

"But I have seen a live one, and my curiosity is satisfied," replied
Jeems.

"He won't bite you, jump in," said Tom, who was quite brave now.

"How do I know that he is really dead?" replied Jeems. "Like as not he
will give a last flop and crush you. The deck for me."

Realizing that it was useless to urge Jeems the boys pulled away from
the _Sea Eagle_, and rowed over to the dead whale.

"My! but he is a monster," said Juarez. "Let's board him."

"All right," agreed Jim.

So Tom jammed the bow of the boat against the whale's side, and the
three J's--Jim, Jo and Juarez--made a landing on Whale Island. It made
Jo feel a little squeamish standing upon the mass of the dead monster
that yielded under his foot. It seemed that his tread must surely
cause the whale to make a final effort to get rid of his enemies.

"He must be all of seventy feet," cried Jim, pacing as far as he
could.

"His head is eight or ten feet long," said Juarez.

"Too bad you can't take some of him for a souvenir," said Tom.

"We are mighty glad that he didn't get any of us for a souvenir,"
remarked Jo.

"I'm going to get my harpoon any way," said Jim. As he wrenched at
it, the whale suddenly rose wi