WHALING VOYAGE. 
217 
and little danger appearing to us from any object upon 
the land, one of the largest and most furious male seals I 
had yet seen was observed to be coming down the rocks 
with great impetuosity,— his glossy mane shaking in the 
wind, defiance depicted in his eye, his extended jaws 
exposing an immense cavity, armed with well-set rows 
of polished teeth,— but our New Zealander resolutely 
advanced to meet him, and with his usual courage, dex» 
terity and strength, inflicted a heavy blow upon the 
forehead of his antagonist, but it had not the effect of 
much retarding his career, while another of our party, 
who had obtained possession of a harpoon, plunged it 
into the monster’s side, and endeavoured to restrain 
his progress by fastening a line to which the harpoon 
was attached round some of the jutting points of rock, 
but the wounded animal became exceedingly furious-- 
foaming and gnashing his teeth with intense rage and 
vigour, and, dashing into the midst of us, carried off 
one of our companions who became entangled in a coil 
of the harpoon rope, and still continuing his course, the 
gushing and rolling waves ascended and carried them 
both away in their wild and cold embrace ! 
We were all ready, when we saw the miserable fate of 
our companion, to plunge headlong into the agitated 
waters to rescue him from his terrible situation, but in 
the next instant we saw him struggling on the top of 
an enormous wave, at too great a distance to have 
been of the slightest service even if we had done so ; he 
then again disappeared, and our last ray of hope sank 
within us — -we heard “ the bubbling cry of the strong 
L 
