Chapter 7. A Whale of Unknown Species

           ThisunexpectedfallsostunnedmethatIhavenoclearrecollectionofmysensationsatthetime.Iwasatfirstdrawndowntoadepthofabouttwentyfeet.Iamagoodswimmer(thoughwithoutpretendingtorivalByronorEdgarPoe,whoweremastersoftheart),andinthatplungeIdidnotlosemypresenceofmind.Twovigorousstrokesbroughtmetothesurfaceofthewater.Myfirstcarewastolookforthefrigate.Hadthecrewseenmedisappear?HadtheAbrahamLincolnveeredround?Wouldthecaptainputoutaboat?MightIhopetobesaved?

           Thedarknesswasintense.Icaughtaglimpseofablackmassdisappearingintheeast,itsbeaconlightsdyingoutinthedistance.Itwasthefrigate!Iwaslost.

           "Help,help!"Ishouted,swimmingtowardstheAbrahamLincolnindesperation.

           Myclothesencumberedme;theyseemedgluedtomybody,andparalysedmymovements.

           Iwassinking!Iwassuffocating!

           "Help!"

           Thiswasmylastcry.Mymouthfilledwithwater;Istruggledagainstbeingdrawndowntheabyss.Suddenlymyclotheswereseizedbyastronghand,andIfeltmyselfquicklydrawnuptothesurfaceofthesea;andIheard,yes,Iheardthesewordspronouncedinmyear:

           "Ifmasterwouldbesogoodastoleanonmyshoulder,masterwouldswimwithmuchgreaterease."

           IseizedwithonehandmyfaithfulConseil’sarm.