Leviathan. 
241 
denly, to Martin’s horror, the huge head of an 
enormous bull shot up from the ocean, directly 
beneath the captain’s boat, the mighty jaws 
opened and closed and crushed her like an 
eggshell! Fortunately Wicks and crew sprang 
overboard the moment they caught sight of the 
creature’s fearful head, and none were killed, 
although two were seriously injured. Martin 
at once picked them up. Meanwhile the cause 
of the disaster darted away after his three com¬ 
panions and the wounded fish which was lying 
on the surface spouting blood (much to Martin’s 
satisfaction, for he feared that the infuriated 
creature would destroy his boat as well as that 
of Captain Wicks). The condition of the 
wounded men justified Martin in making back 
to the ship, and he at once gave orders to that 
effect, seeing that another boat from the brig 
was hastening to kill the wounded whale. 
Hastily putting Captain Wicks and his men 
on board his ship, Martin again started out to 
meet the four loose whales which were now 
coming swiftly down towards the ships. The 
big bull which had destroyed Wick’s boat was 
leading, the others following him closely. Sud¬ 
denly, however, he caught sight of Martin’s 
l 7 
