But the calf was obstinate; it would not go, and the result was that the boat of a whaler pulled up and harpooned it.

The poor little whale darted away like lightning on receiving the terrible iron, and ran out a hundred fathoms of line; but it was soon overhauled and killed.

All this time the dam kept close to the side of its calf, and not until a harpoon was plunged into her own side would she move away.

Two boats were after her.

With a single rap of her tail she cut one of the boats in two, and then darted off.