182 THE OCEAN. 



a favourable moment of attack. Now the bows are 

 thronged with anxious faces; the usual discipline 

 of the ship is relaxed on such occasions; even the 

 sooty cook leaves his caboose, and with the dirty 

 cabin-boy endeavours to witness the interesting per- 

 formance. All are there but the man at the wheel, 

 and even he stands on tip-toe to catch a glimpse 

 of what is going on, and neglecting his helm, "yaws" 

 the ship about sadly. The unsuspecting visitors 

 continue their romps: presently one comes within 

 aim, pretty near the surface; the dart is thrown, and 

 if the trembling anxiety of the harpooner have not 

 marred his skill, strikes its object: I have known 

 it, however, take effect obliquely on the side, cutting 

 deeply into the flesh, but retaining no hold ; in which 

 case the poor wounded creature, with its bowels ex- 

 posed and protruding, instantly shoots away, accom- 

 panied by all its fellows, not, however, to sympathize 

 with it, or afford it any assistance, but, if the sailors 

 may be believed, to fall upon and devour it. But 

 we will suppose that the barbed weapon ' has trans- 

 fixed the animal in the back, and, piercing through 

 the superficial coat of fat, has lodged deep in the 

 solid flesh. The Dolphin plunges convulsively: the 

 whole herd are gone like a thought, leaving their 

 unhappy comrade to his fate: the stout line stretches 

 with the force, but brings him up with a jerk ; the 

 barbs are beneath the tough muscles, and resist all 

 his endeavours for freedom: a dozen eager hands 

 are thrust forth to grasp the line and haul him to 

 the surface. The struggles of the desperate crea- 

 ture are now tremendous: the water all around is 



