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Chapter 5. Arabian Tunnel

           IstoodandcarefullywatchedtheCanadian’sadversary.Thisdugong,whichalsobearsthenameofthehalicore,closelyresemblesthemanatee;itsoblongbodyterminatedinalengthenedtail,anditslateralfinsinperfectfingers.Itsdifferencefromthemanateeconsistedinitsupperjaw,whichwasarmedwithtwolongandpointedteethwhichformedoneachsidedivergingtusks.

           ThisdugongwhichNedLandwaspreparingtoattackwasofcolossaldimensions;itwasmorethansevenyardslong.Itdidnotmove,andseemedtobesleepingonthewaves,whichcircumstancemadeiteasiertocapture.

           Theboatapproachedwithinsixyardsoftheanimal.Theoarsrestedontherowlocks.Ihalfrose.NedLand,hisbodythrownalittleback,brandishedtheharpooninhisexperiencedhand.

           Suddenlyahissingnoisewasheard,andthedugongdisappeared.Theharpoon,althoughthrownwithgreatforce;hadapparentlyonlystruckthewater.

           "Curseit!"exclaimedtheCanadianfuriously;"Ihavemissedit!"

           "No,"saidI;"thecreatureiswoundedlookattheblood;butyourweaponhasnotstuckinhisbody."

           "Myharpoon!myharpoon!"criedNedLand.

           Thesailorsrowedon,andthecoxswainmadeforthefloatingbarrel.Theharpoonregained,wefollowedinpursuitoftheanimal.

           Thelattercamenowandthentothesurfacetobreathe.Itswoundhadnotweakenedit,foritshotonwardswithgreatrapidity.

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