HEROES: The One That Got Away

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Lobstermen and fishermen of Provincetown, Mass, agreed last week that 17-year-old Frank Cabral Jr. would be a famous man until he died. The boy and his father headed seaward at 5 one morning in a 30-ft. powerboat with two dories in tow. They came back with a breathless tale.

When they had anchored the powerboat, taken to the dories and headed for their lobster pots, they spotted Willie, a local Provincetown whale. And Willie, who had never done anything but chase mackerel and show off, headed straight for Frank Jr.'s boat.

"He hit my dory like a steam engine," the youth reported. "I went right up out of the boat and I came down on his flat, slippery hump." The young lobsterman swore he dug his fingers into the whale's hide and rode him like a horse. "Then," he said, "the whale sounded. That was my chance, and I took it—I abandoned him to starboard and started swimming."

Frank's father picked him up and they headed home. Though the dory was stove in, they managed to tow it for evidence. They also brought a piece of soft skin as thick as suit cloth—whale hide, both said. Listening, Provincetown was puzzled, as to whether it should applaud Frank Jr. for riding the whale, or for being the biggest liar in the world. It was an awful situation —and unless somebody checked Willie's hide to see if a portion was missing, Provincetown would never know.