His CAPTORS. 143 



Finds an Enemy. The Flurry. The Death Leap. 



The second mate, who had kept as near as 

 possible during the chase, now fastened with 

 his barbed irons, and whichsoever way the har- 

 assed whale turned, he met an enemy. "Weak- 

 ened with the loss of blood, that was now jetted 

 forth from his huge nostrils in torrents, the 

 subdued monster soon became passive, and his 

 captors lay off at 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 incredible strength 

 put forth in the flurry. 



At last, leaping almost clear from the water, 

 the whale pitched down head foremost, and as 

 their lines tautened, they commenced hauling 

 in hand over hand, expecting that he would 

 die under water, and 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 

 endeavored to check its downward tendency. 

 It would sink like lead in spite of all their 

 efforts, and they were obliged at last to cut 



