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Chapter 6. At Full Steam

           "Andminetoo,"simplysaidtheharpooner.

           Towardstwoo’clockinthemorning,theburninglightreappeared,notlessintense,aboutfivemilestowindwardoftheAbrahamLincoln.Notwithstandingthedistance,andthenoiseofthewindandsea,onehearddistinctlytheloudstrokesoftheanimal’stail,andevenitspantingbreath.Itseemedthat,atthemomentthattheenormousnarwhalhadcometotakebreathatthesurfaceofthewater,theairwasengulfedinitslungs,likethesteaminthevastcylindersofamachineoftwothousandhorse-power.

           "Hum!"thoughtI,"awhalewiththestrengthofacavalryregimentwouldbeaprettywhale!"

           Wewereonthequivivetilldaylight,andpreparedforthecombat.Thefishingimplementswerelaidalongthehammocknettings.Thesecondlieutenantloadedtheblunderbusses,whichcouldthrowharpoonstothedistanceofamile,andlongduck-guns,withexplosivebullets,whichinflictedmortalwoundseventothemostterribleanimals.NedLandcontentedhimselfwithsharpeninghisharpoonaterribleweaponinhishands.

           Atsixo’clockdaybegantobreak;and,withthefirstglimmeroflight,theelectriclightofthenarwhaldisappeared.Atseveno’clockthedaywassufficientlyadvanced,butaverythickseafogobscuredourview,andthebestspyglassescouldnotpierceit.Thatcauseddisappointmentandanger.

           Iclimbedthemizzen-mast.Someofficerswerealreadyperchedonthemast-heads.Ateighto’clockthefoglayheavilyonthewaves,anditsthickscrollsroselittlebylittle.Thehorizongrewwiderandcleareratthesametime.Suddenly,justasonthedaybefore,NedLand’svoicewasheard:

           "Thethingitselfontheportquarter!"criedtheharpooner.

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