I had thus far seen some of the sport, a good deal of the hard work, and some of the uncertainties of the whaleman’s life; now I came upon a streak of peril the remembrance of which is not likely to be sponged from my mind as long as I possess any memory at all.
It was at daybreak the lookout hailed the deck with “Ah-h blows! And spouts! All about us, sir!”
It was true. We had run into the midst of the school of whales. Captain Rogers being called by Mr. Robbins, took a look around the sea-line, cast a shrewd look at the heavens, went and squinted at the glass, and then ordered the canvas reefed down and all hands to breakfast. The prospect, of both weather and whales, was for a good kill.
The healthy rivalry between the boats was now manifest. Captain Rogers ordered all six out, leaving but two men aboard the bark. They could just manage to steer her under the riding sail. Our boat was off as soon as any and we pulled steadily for the whale we had chosen as our prize. We had brought in the biggest one before and we hoped to do as well on this occasion.
But we couldn’t pick the biggest this time, for as we shot through the rippling waves, aiming for a huge bull that rolled on the surface, up popped a young female, with a calf, right in our course.
“Look out for her!” quoth old Tom Anderly. “She’ll be ugly, sir—with that kid beside her. Better think twice of it, Mr. Gibson.”
“Think we’re going to have the other boats give us the yah-yah because we pass up a fifty-foot she whale, eh?” demanded the young second officer. “Just step forward here, old timer, and see if you can stick your fork into her.”
After all, the mate’s word was law even to the old boat-steerer. They quickly changed places and Tom took up the iron. The calf was playing on the far side of its mother, and so we could easily come up upon the nigh side without being observed.
In a few moments Tom had her pinned. Then there was the Old Harry to pay and no pitch hot, as the sailors say!
The other two whales I had seen killed merely thought of running away from the thing that had hurt them. But the one we now were fast in had her baby to care for. She set off running, but would not swim faster than the calf could travel. We did not put out the full length of one line.