WHICH TREATS OF THE KRAKEN. 147 



Mr. Cruce made a powerful thrust with his keen tool, the 

 vessel rolled, and the blow, missing the score in which he 

 was cutting, fell upon the case instead, piercing its side. 

 For a few minutes the result was unnoticed amidst the 

 wash of the ragged edges of the cut, but presently a long 

 streak of white, wax-like pieces floating astern, and a 

 tremendous commotion among the birds, told the story. 

 The liquid spermaceti was leaking rapidly from the case, 

 turning solid as it got into the cool water. Nothing 

 could be done to stop the waste, which, as it was a large 

 whale, was not less than twenty barrels, or about two 

 tuns of pure spermaceti. An accident of this kind never 

 failed to make our skipper almost unbearable in his 

 temper for some days afterwards ; and, to do him justice, 

 he did not discriminate very carefully as to who felt his 

 resentment besides its immediate cause. 



Therefore we had all a rough time of it while his angry 

 fit lasted, which was a whole week, or until all was ship- 

 shape again. Meanwhile we were edging gradually 

 through the Malacca Straits and around the big island 

 of Borneo, never going very near the land on account of 

 the great and numerous dangers attendant upon coast- 

 ing in those localities to any but those continually 

 engaged in such a business. 



Indeed, all navigation in those seas to sailing vessels 

 i& dangerous, and requires the greatest care. Often we 

 were obliged at a minute's notice to let go the anchor, 

 although out of sight of land, some rapid current being 

 found carrying us swiftly towards a shoal or race, where 

 we might come to grief. Yet there was no fuss or hurry, 

 the same leisurely old system was continued, and worked 

 as well as ever. But it was not apparent why we 

 were threading the tortuous and difficult waters of the 



