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Chapter 6. At Full Steam

           "No,sir;itisevidentlyagiganticnarwhal,andanelectricone."

           "Perhaps,"addedI,"onecanonlyapproachitwithatorpedo."

           "Undoubtedly,"repliedthecaptain,"ifitpossessessuchdreadfulpower,itisthemostterribleanimalthateverwascreated.Thatiswhy,sir,Imustbeonmyguard."

           Thecrewwereontheirfeetallnight.Noonethoughtofsleep.TheAbrahamLincoln,notbeingabletostrugglewithsuchvelocity,hadmoderateditspace,andsailedathalfspeed.Foritspart,thenarwhal,imitatingthefrigate,letthewavesrockitatwill,andseemeddecidednottoleavethesceneofthestruggle.Towardsmidnight,however,itdisappeared,or,touseamoreappropriateterm,it"diedout"likealargeglow-worm.Haditfled?Onecouldonlyfear,nothopeit.Butatsevenminutestooneo’clockinthemorningadeafeningwhistlingwasheard,likethatproducedbyabodyofwaterrushingwithgreatviolence.

           Thecaptain,NedLand,andIwerethenonthepoop,eagerlypeeringthroughtheprofounddarkness.

           "NedLand,"askedthecommander,"youhaveoftenheardtheroaringofwhales?"

           "Often,sir;butneversuchwhalesthesightofwhichbroughtmeintwothousanddollars.IfIcanonlyapproachwithinfourharpoons’lengthofit!"

           "Buttoapproachit,"saidthecommander,"Ioughttoputawhaleratyourdisposal?"

           "Certainly,sir."

           "Thatwillbetriflingwiththelivesofmymen."

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