4A, ATTEMPTS TO DISCREDIT THE SEA-SERPENT. 
or sound uttered. In a few minutes the whole length of the body 
rose and lay on the water; it was of an enormous length. Pre- 
sently the extremity or tail moved or vibrated, agitating the water, 
and then the head rose entirely above the water, and moved side- © 
ways slowly, as if the monster was in agony or suffocating. “It is 
a sea-serpent’’ I exclaimed; “stand by the hoats’. There was a 
hesitancy, and the mate said, “of what use is there lowering for 
him? We only lose time, and gain nothing besides” I abrubtly 
checked him, and ordered all hand to be called aft. When they 
had mustered I told them I wished to “try” that fellow. 1 urged 
them with all the eloquence I possessed, telling them there were 
but few who believed in the existence of a sea-serpent, and that a 
wish had been expressed that a whale ship might fall in with one 
of them — that if we did not attack him, and should tell of 
seeing him when we got home, we should be laughed at and de- 
rided -— and the very first question would be: “Why didn’t you 
try him?” I told them our courage was at stake — our manhood, 
and even the credit of the whole American whalefishery, and con- 
cluded by appealing to their cupidity — holding out that we 
might possibly get him into some southern port. “I do not order 
one of you to go in the boats’, I said “but who will volunteer?” 
Let me say to their credit, every American in the ship stepped. 
out at once, followed by all but one native and two Englishmen. 
I ordered the boat-steerers and officers to examine and see that 
every thing in and about the boats was in perfect order. I had 
already jumped into my boat when the serpent began to move 
very rapidly, and it was necessary to stand after him. The wind 
was piping up strongly, but as we gained I continued to carry all 
sail, hoping to be able to lower before the gale rendered it im- 
possible. The serpent worked to windward, which compelled me 
to haul on the wind, and soon after I carried away my fore top- 
gallant mast; this was most unlucky for us, and, what was still 
worse, we lost sight of the monster. We repaired damages with 
all possible despatch, and still kept on the wind, hoping to see 
his snakeship. In less than an hour we saw him again, but some 
way to windward; soon ascertaining that he partly turned, and 
was headed baft for beam, I put the ship about on the other 
tack. The wind had increased so much, that 1 was obliged to 
put a single reef in the fore and mizen topsails. The serpent 
disappeared for a few minutes again, but when he rose he 
was a mile ahead of the ship, and going slowly to leeward, 
