Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV. WHALING. Though many whales were caught by the ships in Behring Sea, I did not happen to be near enough to enjoy the sport, and it was not until we anchored under East Cape that I saw my first whale caught. Everything had been so interesting, however, that I had not been disappointed, and after I had seen the first one, I rejoiced that it was the first, everything was so favorable. The day was beautiful, and the captain and I embraced the opportunity to make the round of the nine ships at anchor and relate the story of the wrecked man at Cape Navarin. When on the extreme northern ship, a whale was "raised," or seen, coming leisurely along up the edge of the shore-ice. The news spread like wild-fire, and in a few minutes thirty or more whale-boats were flitting about, each endeavoring to get as near as possible to the spot where the whale would next rise to spout. When he rose a boat darted an iron, but it did not hold. At the next rising another boat attempted to hit him, but also failed; but the third boat made fast to him. It was a grand sight to see the whale make a lunge and start seaward, towing the boat after him at a terrific pace. He went a mile or two, then wheeled about and made a straight line for the shore-ice. Another boat was soon along-side to bend on more line to the nearly exhausted tubs of the fast boat. All the captains became so excited and interested in the chase that they longed for some of the fun, so four of them took the Hunter's steam-launch, I accompanying them. As soon as we reached the shore ice I saw the whale spout behind a long point of ice. It would have taken a boat considerable time to sail there, but we steamed around it, and before I could comprehend the situation, were alongside the monster. It seemed incredible that su... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.