We continued to strain every muscle till we were hard upon the whale. Tabor sprang to the bow, and stood by with the harpoon.
“Softly, softly, my lads,” said the headsman.
“Aye, aye, sir!”
“Hush-h-h! softly. Now’s your time, Tabor!”
Tabor let fly the harpoon, and buried the iron.
“Give him another!”
“Aye, aye! Stern all!”
“Stern all!” thundered the headsman.
“Stern all!”
And, as we rapidly backed from the whale, he flung his tremendous flukes high in the air, covering us with a cloud of spray. He then sounded, making the line whiz as it passed through the chocks. When he rose to the surface again, we hauled up, and the second mate stood ready in the bow to dispatch him with lances.