П’ятнадцятирічний капітан

The Jubarte

           

           Butbeforeshehadmadeherfirstplunge,CaptainHullandtheboatswain,bothstanding,hadhadtimetoseeher,andconsequentlytoestimateherathertruevalue.

           Thisjubartewas,inreality,awhaleofthelargestsize.Fromtheheadtothetail,shemeasuredatleasteightyfeet.Herskin,ofayellowishbrown,wasmuchvariedwithnumerousspotsofadarkerbrown.

           Itwouldindeedbeapity,afteranattacksohappilybegun,tobeunderthenecessityofabandoningsorichaprey.

           Thepursuit,orratherthetowing,hadcommenced.Thewhale-boat,whoseoarshadbeenraised,dartedlikeanarrowwhileswingingonthetopsofthewaves.

           Howikkeptitsteady,notwithstandingthoserapidandfrightfuloscillations.CaptainHull,hiseyeonhisprey,didnotceasemakinghiseternalrefrain:

           "Bewatchful,Howik,bewatchful!"

           Andtheycouldbesurethattheboatswain’svigilancewouldnotbeatfaultforaninstant.

           Meanwhile,asthewhale-boatdidnotflynearlyasfastasthewhale,thelineoftheharpoonspunoutwithsuchrapiditythatitwastobefearedthatitwouldtakefireinrubbingagainsttheedgeofthewhale-boat.SoCaptainHulltookcaretokeepitdamp,byfillingwithwaterthepailatthebottomofwhichthelinewascoiled.

           Allthistimethejubartedidnotseeminclinedtostopherflight,norwillingtomoderateit.Thesecondlinewasthenlashedtotheendofthefirst,anditwasnotlongbeforeitwasplayedoutwiththesamevelocity.

           Attheendoffiveminutesitwasnecessarytojoinonthethirdline,whichranoffunderthewater.

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