152 TEE CRUISE OF THE "CACHALOT*' 



trunk of the whale. Happily, there were two boats dis- 

 engaged, BO that they were able very promptly to rescue 

 the sufferers from their perilous position in the boiling 

 vortex of foam by which they were surrounded. Mean- 

 while, the remaining boat had an easy task. The shot 

 delivered by the captain had taken deadly effect, the 

 bomb having entered the creature's side low down, 

 directly abaft the pectoral fin. It must have exploded 

 within the cavity of the bowels, from its position, causing 

 such extensive injuries as to make even that vast animal's 

 death but a matter of a few moments. Therefore, we 

 did not run any unnecessary risks, but hauled off to a 

 safe distance and quietly watched the death-throes. 

 They were so brief, that in less than ten minutes from 

 the time of the accident we were busy securing the line 

 through the flukes of our prize. 



The vessel was an unusually long time working up 

 to us, so slow, in fact, that Mr. Count remarked, criti- 

 cally, " Shouldn't wonder if th' ole man ain't hurt ; 

 they're taking things so all-fired easy." By the time 

 she had reached us, we had a good few visitors around 

 us from the fishing fleet, who caused us no little anxiety. 

 The Chinese have no prejudices ; they would just as soon 

 steal a whale as a herring, if the conveyance could be 

 effected without more trouble or risk to their own yellow 

 skins. If it involved the killing of a few foreign devils 

 — well, so much to the good. The ship, however, arrived 

 before the fishermen had decided upon any active steps, 

 and we got our catch alongside without any delay. The 

 truth of Mr. Count's forecast was verified to the hilt, 

 for we found that the captain was so badly bruised 

 about the body that he was unable to move, while one 

 of the hands, a Portuguese, was injured internally, and 



