FOBT PEQASUS. 363 



down — and they did, but I hardly know how. The spray 

 was blinding, coming in sheets over the bows, so that 1 

 could hardly see how to steer in the monster's wake. He 

 headed straight for the ship, which lay-to almost motion- 

 less, filling me with apprehension lest he should in his 

 blind flight dash that immense mass of solid matter 

 into her broadside, and so put an inglorious end to all 

 our hopes. What their feelings on board must have 

 been, I can only imagine, when they saw the undeviating 

 rush of the gigantic creature straight for them. On he 

 went, until I held my breath for the crash, when at the 

 last moment, and within a few feet of the ship's side, he 

 dived, passing beneath the vessel. We let go line 

 immediately, as may be supposed ; but although we had 

 been towing with quite fifty fathoms drift, our speed had 

 been so great that we came up against the old ship with 

 a crash that very nearly finished us. He did not run 

 any farther just then, but sounded for about two hundred 

 and fifty fathoms, rising to the surface in quite another 

 mood. No more running away from him. I cannot say 

 I felt any of the fierce joy of battle at the prospect before 

 me. I had a profound respect for the fighting qualities 

 of the sperm whale, and, to tell the truth, would much 

 rather have run twenty miles behind him than have him 

 turn to bay in his present parlous humour. It was, 

 perhaps, fortunate for me that there was a crowd of 

 witnesses, the other ships being now quite near enough 

 to see all that was going on, since the feeling that my 

 doings were full in view of many experts and veterans 

 gave me a determination that I would not disgrace 

 either myself or my ship ; besides, I felt that this would 

 probably be our last whale this voyage, if I did not fail, 

 and that was no small thing to look forward to. 



All these things, so tedious in the telling, flashed 



