144 TEE CRUISE OF THE " CACHALOT:* 



part of the mollusc in his jaws, and, in a business-like, 

 methodical way, was sawing through it. By the side of 

 the black columnar head of the whale appeared the head 

 of the great squid, as awful an object as one could well 

 imagine even in a fevered dream. Judging as carefully 

 as possible, I estimated it to be at least as large as one 

 of our pipes, which contained three hundred and fifty 

 gallons ; but it may have been, and probably was, a good 

 deal larger. The eyes were very remarkable from their 

 size and blackness, which, contrasted with the livid 

 whiteness of the head, made their appearance all the 

 more striking. They were, at least, a foot in diameter, 

 and, seen under such conditions, looked decidedly eerie 

 and hobgoblin-like. All around the combatants were 

 numerous sharks, like jackals round a lion, ready to 

 share the feast, and apparently assisting in the destruc- 

 tion of the huge cephalopod. So the titanic struggle 

 went on, in perfect silence as far as we were concerned, 

 because, even had there been any noise, our distance 

 from the scene of conflict would not have permitted us 

 to hear it. 



Thinking that such a sight ought not to be missed 

 by the captain, I overcame my dread of him sufficiently 

 to call him, and tell him of what was taking place. 

 He met my remarks with such a furious burst of anger 

 at my daring to disturb him for such a cause, that I fled 

 precipitately on deck again, having the remainder of the 

 vision to myself, for none of the others cared sufficiently 

 for such things to lose five minutes' sleep in witnessing 

 them. The conflict ceased, the sea resumed its placid 

 calm, and nothing remained to tell of the fight but 

 a strong odour of fish, as of a bank of seaweed left by 

 the tide in the blazing sun. Eight bells struck, and I 



