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Chapter 6. At Full Steam

           Thispursuitlastednearlythree-quartersofanhour,withoutthefrigategainingtwoyardsonthecetacean.Itwasquiteevidentthatatthatrateweshouldnevercomeupwithit.

           "Well,Mr.Land,"askedthecaptain,"doyouadvisemetoputtheboatsouttosea?"

           "No,sir,"repliedNedLand;"becauseweshallnottakethatbeasteasily."

           "Whatshallwedothen?"

           "Putonmoresteamifyoucan,sir.Withyourleave,Imeantopostmyselfunderthebowsprit,and,ifwegetwithinharpooningdistance,Ishallthrowmyharpoon."

           "Go,Ned,"saidthecaptain."Engineer,putonmorepressure."

           NedLandwenttohispost.Thefireswereincreased,thescrewrevolvedforty-threetimesaminute,andthesteampouredoutofthevalves.Weheavedthelog,andcalculatedthattheAbrahamLincolnwasgoingattherateof1812milesanhour.

           Buttheaccursedanimalswamatthesamespeed.

           Forawholehourthefrigatekeptupthispace,withoutgainingsixfeet.ItwashumiliatingforoneoftheswiftestsailersintheAmericannavy.Astubbornangerseizedthecrew;thesailorsabusedthemonster,who,asbefore,disdainedtoanswerthem;thecaptainnolongercontentedhimselfwithtwistinghisbeardhegnawedit.

           Theengineerwascalledagain.

           "Youhaveturnedfullsteamon?"

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