Frank's manner so impressed his brother that the younger lad now began to swing his craft around. They could both see the whale plainly now, even while sitting down, for the great sea animal was nearer.
Then, whether it was some sudden whim, or because he saw the boats and took them for natural enemies, there was a sudden swirling of water and the whale increased his speed, heading straight for the two skiffs that were now almost touching side by side.
"He's coming!" yelled Andy.
"I told you he was!" cried Frank. "Row! Row! Get out of the way!"
This was more easily said than done. In vain did the lads pull frantically on their oars. The whale was now coming on with the speed of an express train. He was headed right for the two boats!
"Pull out! Pull out!" shouted Andy. "He may go between us then!"
It was good advice, and Frank, who was a little the better rower, started to follow it.
But it was too late. On came the monster of the deep, his great head throwing up a huge wave in front of him. Andy was rowing as hard as was his brother until he suddenly jumped his left oar out of the oarlock. In another moment it had gone overboard.
This seemed to attract the attention of the whale to the skiff of the younger lad. The monster might have thought that the occupant of the boat was trying to hurl a harpoon.
Suddenly changing his course, the leviathan, which had been headed for
Frank's craft, now turned toward Andy's.