When his shipmates perceived him struggling with the waves, they redoubled their exertions.

They reached him just as his strength was exhausted, and had the happiness of rescuing this adventurous harpooner from his perilous situation.
"Captain Lyons, of the 'Raith,' of Leith, while prosecuting the whale fishery on the Labrador coast, in the season of 1802, discovered a large whale at a short distance from the ship.

Four boats were dispatched in pursuit, and two of them succeeded in approaching it so closely together that two harpoons were struck at the same moment.

The fish descended a few fathoms in the direction of another of the boats, which was on the advance, rose accidentally beneath it, struck it with his head, and threw the boat, men, and apparatus about fifteen feet in the air.

It was inverted by the stroke, and fell into the water with its keel upward.