I Win the Headship 35 



me — and missed me by a yard, for I had felt him coming 

 and given one tremendous sweep with my flukes that 

 had carried me forward and downward withal. Keeping 

 just beneath the surface I felt for him cautiously, every 

 sinew tense for the blow I meant to deal when I should 

 touch him. But I had for an adversary one of the 

 wiliest as well as mightiest of Sperm Whales, and my 

 only hope of victory, apart from the chances of accident, 

 was to copy his tactics with that rapidity of learning 

 which is our birthright, and trust to my superior youth 

 and consequent vigour to put them into practice for 

 his defeat. 



So we circled around each other warily, he occasion- 

 ally making one of his awful rushes either under or 

 above water, according to our position at the time, for 

 while life remains to us we must obey the irresistible 

 call of our lungs, and rise or sink in accordance there- 

 with. I kept strictly on the defensive, husbanding my 

 strength for the first sign of my old ruler's weakening, 

 and so, without harm done to either, the long fierce 

 day rolled slowly on. Then I noticed that his rushes 

 were not so vigorous, he was losing his caution, and also 

 his temper, for every silent taunt that we know so well 

 how to convey without making a sound, he was now 

 using profusely. 



Suddenly I saw my opportunity ; he was lying in 

 such a position that he could not see me, and his vast 

 lower mandible hung down temptingly, a gleaming 

 white bar against the deep blue of the sea. Without 

 making a ripple I arched my body nearly double, then 

 releasing the tension sprang forward at him, turning 

 withal and gripping his jaw in mine. The ocean boiled 

 with our efforts, he to free himself and I to hold on. At 

 last came a rending crack, I felt the jaw give in mine, 

 and knew that I was victor. Releasing my hold I 



