FRUITLESS PERILS. 123 



jetted forth from his huge nostrils in torrents, 

 the subdued monster soon became passive, and 

 his- captors lay off at a safe distance to wait the 

 last struggle. This was speedily over; for, 

 after a few moments of convulsive writhing, 

 there came the final spasm, which is always 

 terrible to see. The surrounding waters were 

 lashed into foam, and all previous exhibitions of 

 power were as nothing compared with the in- 

 credible strength put forth in the flurry. 



At last, leaping almost clear from the water, 

 the whale pitched down head foremost, and 

 before their lines tautened, they commenced 

 hauling in hand over hand, expecting that an 

 impulse to the surface would begin, should he 

 die under water, so that the body would rise 

 directly ; but in this they were deceived. The 

 strain upon the lines soon indicated that the 

 whale was sinking, and it was all in vain they 

 endeavoured to check its downward tendency. 

 It would sink like lead in spite of all their 

 efforts, and they were obliged at last to cut the 

 lines in order to keep the boats from going 

 down with it. Thus they lost not only the 



