54 The Humpback Whale 



foe. So it came about that on the second day, just as 

 the pearly dawn was breaking and a faint blush was 

 tinging the summits of the sombre green hills, she lay 

 as usual peacefully giving suck to her youngling, while 

 the cool dimples of the water softly laved the happy 

 pair. Suddenly she became conscious of the close 

 proximity of danger, stiffened all her muscles while her 

 tail vibrated slowly and her long arms reached out in 

 agitated fashion to draw the young one into her side 

 for shelter. Too late ; a glittering harpoon flew over 

 her back, aimed at her, but missing its mark and 

 transfixing the calf, which instantly died. 



By some strange process of deduction, quick as 

 thought, she knew the full extent of the calamity which 

 had befallen her, and raising her mighty tail on high 

 made sea and shore resound with the thunder of her 

 blows. So sudden was her transition from utter peace 

 to the intensest fury of revenge, that the crew of the 

 boat which had stolen up behind her through the narrow 

 reef channel had no time to retreat. Bewildered by the 

 rapidity and violence of the blows, and blinded by the 

 spray, they leapt overboard and climbed with torn 

 hands and feet up the jagged surface of the reef, only 

 about two feet under water. There they were safe 

 from the whale, but in imminent danger should the sea 

 rise of being dashed to fragments upon those myriad 

 needlepoints of coral. Fearfully they beheld their 

 infuriated victim frantically dashing their devoted boat 

 into minute fragments, pausing momentarily at short 

 intervals as if to listen for their whereabouts, if haply 

 she might by any means compass their destruction also. 



Finally, after an exhibition of power and ferocity 

 amazing to witness in one habitually so gentle, one also 

 who would suffer her last drop of blood to be drained 

 rather than retaliate while her calf was alive, in case 



