Work of the Fighting Whales 289 



the bow boat, Vera uttered a cry in Portuguese, 

 and, like a terrific bolt of fire from the clear sky 

 of a midsummer day, the immense, glistening 

 lower jaw, armed with two rows of polished 

 teeth, flashed from the water, and the gigantic 

 whale leaped into the air, carrying with it the head 

 of the boat, which had been snapped asunder, 

 and the unfortunate Vera, whose head and long 

 arms were suspended from the corner of the 

 monster's mouth, the body and legs being con- 

 fined within the iron vice. The sportive hump- 

 backs, those clowns of the cetaceous order, often- 

 times bolt clear of the water; but it is seldom the 

 horizon is outlined between a sperm whale and 

 the sea. The eyes of the stroke oarsman of the 

 larboard boat were directed to poor Vera's face, 

 the rapidly changing expression of that face, 

 which afterwards appeared to him in his dreams 

 in the forecastle and in his lonely vigils at night. 

 First it indicated surprise and indignation; next 

 it seemed to implore help; but the lips spake 

 not and not a muscle moved. A calm resigna- 

 tion now settled upon the blanched features, 

 but it soon gave way to utter despair and help- 



