182 THE OCEAN. 
a favourable moment of attack. Now the bows are 
thronged with anxious faces; the usual discipline 
of the ship is relaxed on such occasions; even the 
sooty cook leaves his caboose, and with the dirty 
cabin-boy endeavours to witness the interesting per- 
formance. All are there but the man at the wheel, 
and even he stands on tip-toe to catch a glimpse 
of what is going on, and neglecting his helm, “yaws” 
the ship about sadly. The unsuspecting visitors 
continue their romps: presently one comes within 
aim, pretty near the surface; the dart is thrown, and 
if the trembling anxiety of the harpooner have not 
marred his skill, strikes its object: I have known 
it, however, take effect obliquely on the side, cutting 
deeply into the flesh, but retaining no hold; in which 
case the poor wounded creature, with its bowels ex- 
posed and protruding, instantly shoots away, accom- 
panied by all its fellows, not, however, to sympathize 
with it, or afford it any assistance, but, if the sailors 
may be believed, to fall upon and devour it. But 
we will suppose that the barbed weapon has trans: 
fixed the animal in the back, and, piercing through 
the superficial coat of fat, has lodged deep in the 
solid flesh. The Dolphin plunges convulsively: the 
whole herd are gone like a thought, leaving their 
unhappy comrade to his fate: the stout line stretches 
with the force, but brings him up with a jerk; the 
barbs are beneath the tough muscles, and resist all 
his endeavours for freedom: a dozen eager hands 
are thrust forth to grasp the line and haul him to 
the surface. The struggles of the desperate crea- 
ture are now tremendous: the water all around is 
1 
