paddle that is altogether independent of that of the greater quiet of that mode of forcing a boat ahead.  He that paddles looks ahead, and the approach is more easily regulated, when the whole of the boat’s crew are apprised, by means of their own senses, of the actual state of things, than when they attain their ideas of them through the orders of an officer.  The last must govern in all cases, but the men are prepared for them, when they can see what is going on, and will be more likely to act with promptitude and intelligence, and will be less liable to make mistakes.

The four boats, two from each schooner, dropped into the water nearly about the same time.  Daggett was at the steering-oar of one, as was Roswell at that of another.  Hazard, and Macy, the chief mate of the Vineyard craft, were at the steering-oars of the two remaining boats.  All pulled in the direction of the spot on the ocean where the spouts had been seen.  It was the opinion of those who had been aloft, that there were several fish; and it was certain that they were of the most valuable species, or the spermaceti, one barrel of the oil of which was worth about as much as the oil of three of the ordinary sort, or that of the right whale, supposing them all to yield the same quantity in number of barrels.  The nature or species of the fish was easily enough determined by the spouts; the right whale throwing up two high arched jets of water, while the spermaceti throws but a single, low, bushy one.

It was not long ere the boats of the two captains came abreast of each other, and within speaking distance.  A stern rivalry was now apparent in every countenance, the men pulling might and main, and without even a smile among them all.  Every face was grave, earnest, and determined; every arm strung to its utmost powers of exertion.  The men rowed beautifully, being accustomed to the use of their long oars in rough water, and in ten minutes they were all fully a mile dead to windward of the two schooners.

Few things give a more exalted idea of the courage and ingenuity of the human race than to see adventurers set forth, in a mere shell, on the troubled waters of the open ocean, to contend with and capture an animal of the size of the whale.  The simple circumstance that the last is in its own element, while its assailants are compelled to approach it in such light and fragile conveyances, that, to the unpractised eye, it is sufficiently difficult to manage them amid the rolling waters, without seeking so powerful an enemy to contend with.  But, little of all this did the crews of our four boats now think.  They had before them the objects, or one of the objects, rather, of their adventure, and so long as that was the case, no other view but that of prevailing could rise before their eyes.

“How is it, Gar’ner?” called out the Vineyard master; “shall it be shares? or does each schooner whale on her own hook?”