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Updated: May 19, 2025
And, first of all, Captain Hull sailed so as to come up to the whale on the leeward, so that no noise might disclose the boat's approach. Howik then steered the whale-boat, following the rather elongated curve of that reddish shoal, in the midst of which floated the jubarte. They would thus turn the curve.
"I can do without it very well." At that moment the barking was more distinctly heard. Three hundred feet, at the most, separated the two ships. Almost immediately a dog of great height appeared on the starboard netting, and clung there, barking more despairingly than ever. "Howik," said Captain Hull, turning toward the master of the "Pilgrim's" crew, "heave to, and lower the small boat."
Howik and the four sailors only waited for the order to let go the rope. A single place was vacant in the prow of the whale-boat that which Captain Hull would occupy. It is needless to say that the "Pilgrim's" crew, before quitting her, had brought the ship's sails aback.
The boatswain, set over this work, was a seaman of great coolness, who inspired Captain Hull with every confidence. He had not to fear either hesitation or distraction from Howik. "Attention to the steering, Howik," said Captain Hull. "We are going to try to surprise the jubarte. We will only show ourselves when we are near enough to harpoon it." "That is understood, sir," replied the boatswain.
The whale-boat, whose oars had been raised, darted like an arrow while swinging on the tops of the waves. Howik kept it steady, notwithstanding those rapid and frightful oscillations. Captain Hull, his eye on his prey, did not cease making his eternal refrain: "Be watchful, Howik, be watchful!" And they could be sure that the boatswain's vigilance would not be at fault for an instant.
Howik again skilfully avoided the jubarte's attack, by darting the boat aside. Three new blows, well aimed, again gave the animal three new wounds. But, in passing, she struck the water so roughly with her formidable tail, that an enormous wave arose, as if the sea were suddenly opened. The whale-boat almost capsized, and, the water rushing in over the side, it was half filled.
In passing she grazed the whale-boat with her enormous dorsal fin, but with so much force that Howik was thrown down from his bench. The three lances, unfortunately affected by the oscillation, this time missed their aim. "Howik! Howik!" cried Captain Hull, who himself had been hardly able to keep his place. "Present!" replied the boatswain, as he got up.
"No doubt," replied the boatswain, Howik. "Only it has never been known." It would have astonished these brave men to tell them that, on the contrary, it had been known, and that a certain Danish servant possessed a dog which pronounced distinctly twenty words. But whether this animal comprehended what he said was a mystery.
The whale-boat's crew must be composed of the five men, including the master, Howik, which formed the whole crew of the "Pilgrim." The four sailors were going to take their places at the oars, and Howik would hold the stern oar, which serves to guide a boat of this kind.
It was not impossible for them to get beside the animal and harpoon it at good range, before its attention would be attracted. "Row more slowly, boys," said Captain Hull, in a low voice. "It seems to me," replied Howik, "that the gudgeon suspects something. It breathes less violently than it did just now!" "Silence! silence!" repeated Captain Hull.
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