1 94 The Albacore 



enticing its opening seemed to be, might very possibly 

 mean that out of it I should never come again, since 

 it might be the throat of a sperm whale, or it might 

 contain in its deep recesses a network of living arms, 

 from which I could in no wise escape. And I grew 

 so fast, girth and length increased amazingly, and as 

 for my strength, I did not know its greatness, except 

 that I could, and often did, hurl myself high into the 

 sunblaze after a fleeing flying-fish, descending swiftly 

 with him between my jaws, full of exultation at my 

 own achievement. 



Here I met with almost all that our levels of the 

 ocean hold of strange sea monsters, and held my own 

 among them with utmost pride, for I feared none. 

 Indeed, T was almost too haughtily careless, for, 

 despising the prowling Pristis, or saw-fish, I once 

 almost allowed a vast creature, three times larger than 

 myself, to rip me asunder from beneath, as, swiftly 

 gliding like a black shadow he changed from the dull 

 attitude of lethargy he was assuming as I passed him 

 so carelessly. Thenceforward I held a strictly wary 

 attitude to him and his like until, feeling an irresistible 

 call upon me so to do, I left those pleasant food-full 

 waters and set out for my long journey across the 

 Northern Pacific. I say long to suit your meagre 

 comprehension ; to me its length was a mere matter 

 of indifference, for the exercise of my powers were 

 as spontaneous and natural to me as the gyrations 

 of birds in the air above, there being no consciousness 

 of effort. 



I would I could recall for you the incidents of that 

 trip from China to California. Tell you of the voyagers 

 like myself whom I met and exchanged greetings with 

 in the Middle sea, of the myriad wonders that to me 

 became commonplaces. Make you understand the 



