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the whalers to lend a hand at such a time - & oft times in towing the whale to the ship. We shall soon know whether the "George Henry's" men or their competitors were the parties that 1st made fast to this prize.
The Captain (Capt. B.) has just returned ^[[(10 o'clock)]] from an island h[[?]] by where he has been to see if he could decide who had the whale. I followed him with my "spy". As he landed with his crew, how my heart throbbed in his behalf hopping that [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] the joyful news awaited him that to him & his men belong the Og-big! [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] Up-Up they clamber[[guess]] ^[[over]] the rock-ridges. The Capt. stops - He puts his telescope to his eye. It drops. The whale belongs to the "Georgiana" said I. to the little crowd around me. Long faces were ours! I raised my glass again. Capt. B. just then, as I saw, cooly gave his to "Charley", the Esquimaux "Boat-herder". Then they all descended the hill re-embarked headed their boat back to the G.H.
This was another appearance that the whale was not ours. [[strikethrough]] I descla [[/strikethrough]] 
I came direct down into the cabin & repeated to Sterry who is also on the sick list the evidence. We gave it up! In 5 minutes the Capt. was aboard reporting the all cheering news that the whale was ours! That our 5 boats had it in tow! A little later the Steward came down from the mast-head reporting to the Capt. that [[strikethrough]] it  [[/strikethrough]] ^[[the]] Georgiana boats ^[[(4)]] were the ones towing the whale. This changed the tune again! Capt. cried: "Impossible, impossible for what I saw!" All went ^[[instantly]] [[strikethrough]] upon [[/strikethrough]] up on deck. Some went to mast head. Capt again caught a glimpse of the boats! [[underlined]] They were all his! [[/underlined]] This put a [[underlined]] last clincher [[/underlined]] where it belonged. A little after 12, the line of boats (now increased to 7, by sending out 2 native crews) came fully in view of the ship's deck. Another Rome Triumph!
Slowly but cheeringly came the flotilla in advance of the ^[[great]] subdued. From the hand pulling & slow progress we rightly concluded: this was - noble prize!
Our 1st care was to see who was occupying the "position of honor" in this grand sea-march. [[underlined]] Just as I had decided, [[/undelrined]] some 2 hours before when ^[[the]] Caption, Sterry & I each gave ^[[his]] opinions who 1st made fast to the whale: [[underlined]] It was Smith's boat! [[/underlined]] There stood Smith at his steering oar the stern of his boat ^[[down]] [[strikethrough]] se[[?]] [[/strikethrough]] near the water's edge while the bow mounted high out of water. His boat was ^[[the]] honorable one ^[[pulling]] whale's fluke! I find that it is a custom of long standing, not only of the Americans but [[strikethrough]] of [[/strikethrough]] the ^[[of]] English, & Scotch & French, that the [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] boat's crew that 1st makes fast to the whale [[strikethrough]] to [[/strikethrough]] shall have the position of honor which is [[underlined]] next the King [[/underlined]] - of - [[underlined]] Fishes! [[/underlined]]
At one o'clock the advance boat ^[[was]] passing the ^[[star board]] gang-way of the "George Henry" by which stood Captain Budington watching intently each movement of his [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] victorious army. I stood by his side enjoying the exciting time then around us. As boat followed [[strikethrough]] f[[?]] [[/strikethrough]] boat, it reminded me of Great reviews that I have witnessed - of a General ^[[receiving]] [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] his Army. As each boat passed Capt B. had some cheering word for each of the officers.
At last ^[[though not least]] came Smith - ^[[ [and]] [[strikethrough]] there [[/strikethrough]] [[underlined]] the whale! [[/underlined]]