Marked with a flag and left to float until the end of the day’s hunt.
The night was anything but a dreamless one to me and in the morning when I heard the sudden roar of the harpoon-gun and felt the vessel tremble under the shock I started up hardly knowing whether I was awake or not. But the rattling winch and the thumping of the line made certain that it was no dream.
The whale is made fast to the bow by a heavy chain and the ship starts on the long tow to the station.
Catching up camera and plate holders, I scrambled through the companionway, forgetting in my haste that I was without coat or shoes. Sure enough, we were fast to a humpback which was visible about one hundred fathoms away, swimming high out of water and blowing frequently. When I reached the bridge, the Mate, who was at the wheel, said:
“Yes, he came up suddenly right under the bow; but you’ll have plenty of chances today if the wind keeps down. Look at those birds; there must be lots of feed.”
I was shivering in the raw morning air and ran back to the cabin to get into a coat and shoes. I found Captain Grahame about to come on deck. He laughed when he saw my scanty dress, saying:
“You camera fellows would rather run the risk of catching your death of cold than miss a picture, wouldn’t you!”
I assured him, through chattering teeth, that pneumonia had no terrors when whales were in sight, but made haste to pull on my heavy varsity sweater and high boots. Sorenson was leisurely reloading the gun when I went forward and the humpback, blowing every few seconds, could be seen far ahead.