248 THE OCEAN. 
for after it had disappeared only for a few minutes, 
it again rose, apparently in great trepidation, and, 
as it reared with great velocity, half of its huge 
body projected out of the water. Gaining, however, 
in a few seconds the horizontal position, it went on 
at its utmost speed, going head out; the moment 
after which, he saw a fish, somewhat resembling 
a Conger-eel in figure, but rather more bulky, and 
‘ to all appearance about six or eight feet in length, 
flying itself high out of the water after the Whale, 
and fall clumsily on its back, which caused still 
more alarm to the immense but timid animal, so 
that it beat the water with its tail, and reared its 
enormous head so violently, that sounds from the 
former could be heard at a great distance: it still, 
however, continued its rapid career, receiving every 
few minutes the unwelcome visits of its galling 
adversary. My informant had good reason to be- 
lieve that some other animal was at the same time 
attacking it from below; for, on more than one 
occasion, he saw some animal dart at times to the 
surface with amazing quickness, as if engaged with 
great fury in the contest; and which, he supposes, 
prevented the Whale from descending, in which he 
had the power, no doubt, if he had not been thus 
prevented, of leaving his antagonists far behind. 
The attack was continued for a considerable -time, 
during which the Whale had got a great distance 
from the ship, when it twice threw itself completely 
out of its native element, no doubt endeavouring 
to escape from its tormenting adversaries. by this 
act of ‘breaching,’ and which I have myself seen 
