"No, but you can with the machine gun!" said Jack.
"Not while it's in the stern," replied the old hunter. "I guess we are done for this time. I'll fire a few shots, anyhow, before I die!"
"Wait!" yelled Jack. "I'll turn the ship around!"
"Can you do it?"
"I think I can," was the short reply.
"We cannot use the machinery."
"I know that, but I can use something else—that is, I think I can."
"There is nothing to use."
"Yes, there is. See here!"
As the youth spoke he seized a long pole from the deck, and stuck one end of it in a large cake of ice that floated close by. Slowly, but with the strength of despair he pushed the bow of the airship around so that it was pointed away from the on-coming whale.