32 THE WHALEMAN ; OR, 



boards around and beneath them convinced them 

 that the whale had every thing in his own way. 

 Besides, the sensation was any thing but pleas- 

 ant in expecting every moment to become fodder 

 to the enraged leviathan of the deep. In quick 

 succession those enormous jaws fell, accompa- 

 nied with a deep, hollow moan or groan, wiiich 

 evinced intense pain, that sent a chill of terror to 

 the stoutest hearts. They felt the feebleness of 

 man when the monster arose in his fury and 

 strength. A boat was soon sent to the rescue 

 of their companions, who were swimming in 

 every direction, to avoid contact with the en- 

 raged whale, which seemed bent on destroying 

 every thing within his reach. He really asserted 

 his original lordship in his own native element, 

 and was determined to drive out all intruders. 

 He therefore attacked the second boat, and 

 would probably have ground it to atoms, had 

 not a fortunate circumstance of two objects per- 

 haps somewhat disconcerting him, and dividing 

 his attention, turned him off from his purpose. 



The captain of the Citizen, observing the 

 affray from the beginning, was soon convinced 

 that matters were taking rather a serious direc- 

 tion, and that not only the boats but the lives of 

 his men were greatly imperilled. He therefore 

 ordered the fifth boat to be instantly lowered, 



