50 THE WORLD OF ICE.

parts of its huge carcass, as was evidenced by the
blood which it spouted and the convulsive lashing of
its tremendous tail.

While the captain’s crew were thus engaged, Saun-
ders, the second mate, observing from the ship the
accident to the first mate’s boat, sent off a party of
men to the rescue, thus setting free the third boat,
which was steered by a strapping fellow named Peter
Grim, to follow up the chase. Peter Grim was the
ship’s carpenter, and he took after his name. He was,
as the sailors expressed it, a “ grim customer,” being
burnt by the sun to a deep rich brown colour, besides
being covered nearly up to the eyes with a thick coal-
black beard and moustache, which completely con-
cealed every part of his visage except his prominent
nose and dark, fiery-looking eyes. He was an im-
mense man, the largest in the ship, probably, if we
except the Scotch second mate Saunders, to whom
he was about equal in all respects—except argument.
Like most big men, he was peaceable and good-
humoured.

“ Look alive now, lads,” said Grim, as the men pulled
towards the whale ; “we'll eet a chance yet, we shall,
if you give way like tigers. Split your sides, boys—
do—that’s it. Ah! there she goes right down. Pull
away now, and be ready when she rises.”

As he spoke the whale suddenly sownded—that is,
went perpendicularly down, as it had done when first
struck—and continued to descend until most of the line
in the captain’s boat was run out,