Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/106

 8o DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. "Yes; and see what a distance the animal is dragging us away from the * Pilgrim/ " answered Howîck. " Sooner or later, however," said Captain HuU, " the thîng must corne to the surface ; she îs not a fish, you know." "She is saving her breath for the sake of her speed/* said one of the sailors with a grin. But grin as he might, both he and his companions began to look serious when the fourth line had to be added to the third, and more serious still when the fifth was added to the fourth. The captain even began to mutter impréca- tions upon the refractory brute that was putting theîr patience to so severe a test. The last line was nearly ail uncoiled, and the gênerai consternation was growing very great, when there was observed to be a slight slackening in the tension. " Thank Heaven ! " cried the captain ; " the beast has tired herself out at last." Casting his eye towards the " Pilgrim," he saw at a glance that she could not be less than five miles to leeward. It was a long distance, but when, according to his arrangement, he had hoisted the flag on the boat-hook which was to be the signal for the ship to approach, he had the satisfaction of seeing that Dick Sands and the negroes at once began bracing the yards to get as near as possible to the wind. The breeze, however, blew only in short, unsteady puffs, and it was only too évident that the " Pilgrim " would hâve considérable difficulty in working her way to the whale-boat, even if she succeeded at last. Meantime, just as had been expected, the whale had risen to the surface of the water, the harpoon still fixed firmly in her side. She remained motionless, apparently waiting for her calf, which she had far out-distanced in her mad career. Captain Hull ordered his men to pull towards her as rapidly as they could, and on getting close up, two of the sailors, following the captain's example^ shipped their oars and took up the long lances with which the whale was now to be attacked Howick held himself