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Chapter 6. At Full Steam

           "Yes,sir,"repliedtheengineer.

           ThespeedoftheAbrahamLincolnincreased.Itsmaststrembleddowntotheirsteppingholes,andthecloudsofsmokecouldhardlyfindwayoutofthenarrowfunnels.

           Theyheavedthelogasecondtime.

           "Well?"askedthecaptainofthemanatthewheel.

           "Nineteenmilesandthree-tenths,sir."

           "Claponmoresteam."

           Theengineerobeyed.Themanometershowedtendegrees.Butthecetaceangrewwarmitself,nodoubt;forwithoutstrainingitself,itmade19310miles.

           Whatapursuit!No,Icannotdescribetheemotionthatvibratedthroughme.NedLandkepthispost,harpooninhand.Severaltimestheanimalletusgainuponit."Weshallcatchit!weshallcatchit!"criedtheCanadian.Butjustashewasgoingtostrike,thecetaceanstoleawaywitharapiditythatcouldnotbeestimatedatlessthanthirtymilesanhour,andevenduringourmaximumofspeed,itbulliedthefrigate,goingroundandroundit.Acryoffurybrokefromeveryone!

           Atnoonwewerenofurtheradvancedthanateighto’clockinthemorning.

           Thecaptainthendecidedtotakemoredirectmeans.

           "Ah!"saidhe,"thatanimalgoesquickerthantheAbrahamLincoln.Verywell!wewillseewhetheritwillescapetheseconicalbullets.Sendyourmentotheforecastle,sir."

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