As they pursued the whale, it continued to flee, until, at length, it mingled with a vast shoal of other whales, which they estimated at not fewer than a hundred. Fearful of alarming them, without being able to strike one, they remained for a time motionless.
At last, one rose not far distant from Carr’s boat, upon which he ordered a pull for it. At this time, the fish was approaching them, and on passing, the whizzing harpoon was imbedded deep within its body.
In an instant following, the whale shot nearly with the rapidity of lightning by the boat, and in so doing jerked the line out of its place over the stern, and threw it upon the gunwale. This caused the boat to dip, and nearly to fill with water.
It was a moment of great peril. Carr, who was a brave and active seaman, seized the line, and endeavored to relieve the boat by restoring it to its place; but, by some circumstance, which was never accounted for, a turn or coil of the line flew over his arm, dragged him overboard in an instant, and drew him under the water, never more to rise.
So sudden was the accident, that only one man, who was watching him, saw what had happened; so that when the boat righted, which it immediately did, though half full of water, the whole crew, on looking round, inquired what had become of Carr.
This was a sudden and awful exit from the world. He had not time even for a single exclamation. The man, who saw his removal, observed, that it was so quick, that, though his eye was upon him at the moment, he could scarcely distinguish his figure, as he disappeared. How painful to hear of such a sudden and unexpected summons of a fellow-being from time into eternity! How important to be prepared for death, since, when we least expect it, we may be called to our final account!
It may be added, that when the crew had in a measure recovered from their consternation, they applied themselves to restore things to order. In the mean time, the wounded whale rose to the surface, upon which a harpoon from the other boat was thrown, and several lances were applied; but it was all in vain.
The awful catastrophe, just witnessed, so wrought upon the minds of the seamen, that they had no spirit to follow up the advantage which they had gained. The whale was suffered to remain some minutes unmolested, till, having recovered a degree of energy, it burst away by means of desperate efforts, and effected its escape.
NO. III.—PERILOUS SITUATION OF A BOAT-STEERER.
During a voyage of the ship Resolution, in 1806, in pursuit of whales, in a very high latitude, one was discovered at some distance, upon which a boat put off for the purpose of capturing it.