After a keen sail before the wind, this fourth boat--the swiftest
keeled of all--seemed to have succeeded in fastening--at least,
as well as the man at the mast-head could tell anything about it.
In the distance he saw the diminished dotted boat; and then a swift
gleam of bubbling white water; and after that nothing more;
whence it was concluded that the stricken whale must have
indefinitely run away with his pursuers, as often happens.
There was some apprehension, but no positive alarm, as yet.
The recall signals were placed in the rigging; darkness came on;
and forced to pick up her three far to windward boats--ere going
in quest of the fourth one in the precisely opposite direction--
the ship had not only been necessitated to leave that boat
to its fate till near midnight, but, for the time, to increase
her distance from it. But the rest of her crew being at last
safe aboard, she crowded all sail--stunsail on stunsail--
after the missing boat; kindling a fire in her try-pots for a beacon;
and every other man aloft on the look-out. But though when she
had thus sailed a sufficient distance to gain the presumed place
of the absent ones when last seen; though she then paused to lower
her spare boats to pull all around her; and not finding anything,
had again dashed on; again paused, and lowered her boats;
and though she had thus continued doing till daylight;
yet not the least glimpse of the missing keel had been seen.
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