Down went the boats with a splash.  Each boat’s crew sprang over the rail, and in an instant the larboard, starboard, and waist-boats were manned.  There was great rivalry in getting the start.  The waist-boat got off in pretty good time; and away went all three, dashing the water high over their bows.  Nothing could be more exciting than the chase.  The larboard boat, commanded by the mate, and the waist-boat, by the second mate, were head and head.  “Give way, my lads, give way!” shouted P——­, our headsman; “we gain on them; give way!  A long, steady stroke!  That’s the way to tell it!” “Ay, ay!” cried Tabor, our boat-steerer.  “What do you say, boys?  Shall we lick ’em?” “Pull! pull like vengeance!” echoed the crew; and we danced over the waves, scarcely seeming to touch them.  The chase was now truly soul-stirring.  Sometimes the larboard, then the starboard, then the waist-boat took the lead.  It was a severe trial of skill and muscle.  After we had run two miles at this rate, the whales turned flukes, going dead to windward.  “Now for it, my lads!” cried P——.  “We’ll have them the next rising.  Now pile it on! a long, steady pull!  That’s it! that’s the way!  Those whales belong to us.  Don’t give out!  Half an hour more, and they’re our whales!” The other boats veered off at either side of us, and continued the chase with renewed ardor.  In about half an hour we lay on our oars to look round for the whales.  “There she blows! right ahead!” shouted Tabor, fairly dancing with delight.  “There she blows—­there she blows!” “Oh, Lord, boys, spring!” cried P——.  “Spring it is!  What d’ye say, now, chummies?  Shall we take those whales?” To this general appeal, every man replied by putting his weight on his oar, and exerting his utmost strength.  The boat flew through the water with incredible swiftness, scarcely rising to the waves.  A large bull whale lay about a quarter of a mile ahead of us, lazily rolling in the trough of the sea.  The larboard and starboard boats were far to leeward of us, tugging hard to get a chance at the other whales, which were now blowing in every direction.  “Give way! give way, my hearties!” cried P——­, putting his weight against the aft oar.  “Do you love gin?  A bottle of gin to the best man!  Oh, pile it on, while you have breath! pile it on!” “On with the beef, chummies!  Smash every oar! double ’em up or break ’em!” “Every devil’s imp of you, pull!  No talking; lay back to it; now or never!”

On dashed the boat, cleaving its way through the rough sea, as if the briny element were blue smoke.  The whale, however, turned flukes before we could reach him.  When he appeared again above the surface of the water, it was evident that he had milled while down, by which manoeuver he gained on us nearly a mile.  The chase was now almost hopeless, as he was making to windward rapidly.  A heavy black cloud was on the horizon, portending an approaching squall, and the barque was fast fading from sight.  Still we were not to be baffled by discouraging circumstances