ioo THE WHALEMAN'S ADVENTURES. 



from the wound, and dyeing the sea for a long 

 distance around. But all his flounderings were 

 of no avail ; his pertinacious enemy still main- 

 tained his hold, and was evidently getting the 

 advantage of him. Much alarm seemed to be 

 felt by the many other whales about. These 

 " killers" are of a brownish colour on the back, 

 and white on the belly, with a long dorsal 

 fin. Such was the turbulence with which they 

 passed, that a good view could not be had of 

 them to make out more nearly the description. 

 These fish attack a whale in the same way that 

 a dog baits a bull, and worry him to death. 

 They are endowed with immense strength, armed 

 with strong, sharp teeth, and generally seize the 

 whale by the lower jaw. It is said the only 

 part they eat of them is the tongue. 



The sword-fish and thrasher have been also 

 seen to attack the whale together, the sword- 

 fish driving his tremendous weapon into the 

 belly of the whale from beneath upward, and 

 the thrasher fastened to his back, and giving 

 him terrific blows with his flail. The thrasher 

 not having any power to strike through the 



