336 Reminiscences of 



When the killer felt the pull it plunged down 

 and swam rapidly out to sea, the boatmen in the mean- 

 time giving some turns of the rope around the bow 

 post. For several miles the boat was dragged with 

 a velocity that imperilled its safety, taking in much 

 water which had to be constantly bailed out. After 

 several miles had been gone over the killer fortunately 

 turned back to the bay, with apparently less speed 

 than first given, which gradually diminished after 

 an hour's towing, and finally so that the boatmen 

 hauled back the rope to within 200 feet of the killer. 



The other two boats, which had followed as well 

 as they could, were now enabled to approach and 

 send in their harpoons to the back of the killer, now 

 exposed. Under this additional affliction the killer 

 sounded, but not to a great depth, for it immediately 

 appeared, attacking one of the boats from below 

 with its head, which struck amidship, sending it 

 shattered into the air, and throwing out its occupants, 

 who managed to reach one of the other boats, where 

 they were hauled into safety. 



The killer, without paying any attention to the 

 swimming men, completed the destruction of the 

 boat with its powerful tail, exhibiting while so doing 

 the snapping of its ferocious teeth. The killer then, 

 apparently satisfied with the destruction of one 

 of the boats, began swimming around in a circle 

 upon the surface of the water, and as he became 

 quieter he was simultaneously deeply lanced from 

 each of the two remaining boats, which immediately 

 backed off to avoid the death flurry. But too late, 

 for the killer still had dangerous life left, and, instead 

 of yielding up its struggle, sunk to moderate depth 



