12 
Wild Life in Southern Seas. 
have been for him the swift, death-dealing 
stroke of the whaler’s lance, or the dreadful 
“ squish ” of the bursting bomb as it entered 
his vitals, and put an end to him at 
once, than endure such tortures as now were 
his. But, presently, gathering his strength for 
one final effort, one last spout slowly curled 
out, he lowered his head, raised his tail, and 
dashed headlong seaward. And like demons 
from the pit the two killers followed him 
down. They knew that for a mile out the 
water was too shallow for him to get away 
from them. Behind, the five sharks swept in 
swift pursuit; ahead of all Alopias Vulpes cleft 
the water with sharp vicious “ tweeps ” of his 
long tail. 
Five, perhaps six, minutes passed, and then, 
with a roaring burst of foam, and spouting 
quickly, he raised his immense form half out 
of the water and, supporting himself upon his 
tail, spun round and round. Twice his cave¬ 
like mouth opened and shut, and as he beat 
the sea into froth and spume around, a strange, 
awe-inspiring sound accompanied his last spout; 
for the sharks were at him below, tearing and 
riving out mouthfuls of blubber, and the killers 
