254 THE OCEAN. 



of the boats had got even near him, the enormous 

 animal lifted his widely-expanded flukes, and de- 

 scended perpendicularly into the depths of the Ocean 

 to feed. Those in the boats, however, having no- 

 ticed his course, proceeded onwards, thinking the 

 Whale would continue to pursue the same direction 

 under water; but, as he was going slowly at the 

 time he was up, they did not proceed more than a 

 mile from the place at which he descended, before 

 they separated about a hundred yards from each 

 other, and then, peaking their oars, all the men in 

 each boat stood up, looking in different directions, 

 so as to catch the first appearance of the spout, when 

 the Whale again rose to breathe. When an hour 

 after his descent had expired, the excitement among 

 us who were on board the ship, became wound up 

 to its highest pitch. The captain, who had remained 

 on board, ascended to the fore- top-gallant-yard to 

 watch the manoeuvres of the boats, and for the 

 purpose of the better ordering the signals to them, 

 or working of the ship. All those who were down 

 after the Whale appeared as feverish with anxiety 

 as ourselves, for every now and then they were to 

 be seen shifting their position a little, thinking 

 to do so with advantage; then they would cease 

 rowing, and stand up on the scats of the boats, and 

 look all round over the smooth surface of the Ocean 

 with ardent gaze. But one hour and ten minutes 

 expired before the monster of the deep thought 

 proper to break cover; and when he did, then a 

 rattling chase commenced with the whole of the 

 boats, and they really flew along in line style, souie 



