A MALICIOUS WHALE. 271 



mighty masses of matter in motion, the sliip shook like a 

 leaf. The seemingly malicious whale passed under the 

 ship, grazing her keel, and then appeared at about the 

 distance of a ship's length, lashing the sea with fins and 

 tail as if suffering the most horrible agony. He was evi- 

 dently hurt by the collision, and blindly frantic with 

 instinctive rage. In a few minutes he seemed to recover 

 himself, and started with great speed directly across the 

 vessel's course to windward. Meantime the hands on 

 board discovered the ship to be gradually settling down at 

 the bows, and the pumps were instantly rigged. MTiile 

 working at them one of the men cried out, " God have 

 mercy ! he comes again ! " 



The whale had turned at about one hundred yards from 

 the ship, and was making for her with double his former 

 speed, his pathway white with foam. Eushing head on, 

 he struck her again at the bow, and the tremendous blow 

 stove her in. The whale dived under again and disap- 

 peared, and the ship foundered in ten minutes from the 

 first collision. 



After incredible hardships and sufferings, in their open 

 boats, on the 20th of December the survivors of this 

 catastrophe reached the low island called Ducies. It was 

 a mere sandbank, nearly barren, and supplied them only 

 with water and wild-fowl. On this uninhabited island, 

 dreary as it was, three of the men chose to remain, rather 

 than again commit themselves to the uncertainties of the 



