FIGHT WITH A KILLER. 99 



kind, in which the killers and harpooners were 

 together against the poor whales, and the 

 killers actually succeeded in pulling under and 

 making off with one prize which the whalemen 

 thought themselves sure of. 



In the United States' exploring squadron, on 

 board the Peacock, as we learn from the narra- 

 tive of Commander Wilkes, they witnessed a 

 sea-fight between a whale and one of these 

 enemies. The sea was quite smooth, and 

 offered the best possible view of the combat. 

 First, at a distance from the ship, a whale was 

 seen floundering in a most extraordinary way, 

 lashing the smooth sea into perfect foam, and 

 endeavouring apparently to extricate himself 

 from some annoyance. As he approached the 

 ship, the struggle continuing and becoming 

 more violent, it was perceived that a fish, about 

 twenty feet long, held him by the jaw, his 



ulings, contortions, and throes all betokening 

 the agony of the huge monster. 



The whale now threw himself at full length 

 upon (he water, with open mouth, his pursuer 

 btill hanging to his under jaw, the blood issuing 



II ';> 



