One would think from the name “Coast of Japan” that whalers cruised off the land. In truth they cruised generally some distance from it, for, as has been said, sperm whales do not like soundings and are found in deep water. Fortunately we did not experience a typhoon or any violent storm. We saw a few vessels that looked like junks, but they did not come near enough for us to hail them. Of whalers we saw not a few, and we gammed with several of them. During the months we were there we took three hundred and fifty barrels of sperm oil and were about to start for the Caroline Islands, as Kreelman had predicted, when I had the most eventful experience of my life. As I recall it after all these years, I shudder and renew my gratitude for deliverance. The day before we were to sail for the Carolines, whales were announced in the afternoon, and Silva’s and Lakeum’s boats were lowered. The wind was right; so the masts were stepped and the sails set. For heavy whaleboats, built for service and not for speed, we made very good time. Every one was happy, and I fancy that the men in both boats contemplated a good day’s work with a couple of whales, at least, fast to the ship. Silva’s boat had the advantage, and within an hour from the time of leaving the ship was fast to a whale. The other whales vanished, so we took in sail and awaited developments. In the meantime the wind had shifted, but we could see the ship in the distance, and she was of course beating towards us. It is difficult to tell what a whale will do under water, and he doesn’t propose to let anybody know. When he disappears you may think that he will reappear at some point in the distance and then, of a sudden, he will emerge not far from the place where he sounded. Not a whale was now to be seen; but we were sure that one at least would soon be in evidence, and that was the one that had been struck by the harpooner of Silva’s boat. But we lost interest in that leviathan, for suddenly a great sperm whale rose not more than a hundred feet from our craft. We were ordered to take the paddles, and in less than a minute the bow just touched the big fellow’s body. With his left leg in the clumsy cleat and his stalwart figure strongly outlined against the western sky, where the sun was now hardly visible, our boat-steerer threw both harpoons with splendid effect. We were quick to respond to Lakeum’s order, but the flukes were very inactive and there were hardly any suds to get out of; and the whale showed no inclination to sound. “I’ve been in a boat for thirty years,” said one of our men, “and I never see a whale like that before. I believe he’s sick, and I shouldn’t be surprised if he had five hundred pounds of ambergris in him worth a good deal more than a hundred thousand dollars.” We had pretty quick proof of the fact that the whale was not sick, and we never had the opportunity to learn whether or not he was rich in ambergris. The monster deliberately turned belly up and came for us.