!"

And so indeed it proved, for within ten minutes there were no less than
seventeen of the monsters in view at the same moment within a radius of
a quarter of a mile of the brig, which craft appeared to possess a
fascination for them; for they not only swam round and round her, but
approached her so closely and so persistently that Miss Trevor became
seriously alarmed; while even Leslie began to grow somewhat uneasy lest
the brutes, whose temper he knew to be rather uncertain, should develop
an inclination to attack the craft. To the relief, however, of all
hands, the curiosity of the creatures at length appeared to be
satisfied, and they drew off from the brig a little, still remaining
upon the surface, however. And presently the huge brutes began to
develop a playful disposition, that commenced with their chasing each
other hither and thither, first of all in a leisurely manner, then, as
their excitement grew, their rapidity of movement increased until they
were rushing through the water--and round the brig--with the speed of a
fleet of steamers. And finally they took to "breaching," that is,
throwing themselves completely out of the water, to a height of from ten
to twenty feet, coming down again with a splash, that soon set the water
boiling and foaming all round them, and creating a commotion that caused
the brig to roll and pitch as though she were in a choppy sea. This
exhibition of strength and activity lasted for a full three-quarters of
an hour, when the creatures disappeared as suddenly as they had come,
much, it must be confessed, to the relief of all hands aboard the brig.

From this time nothing of moment occurred until the _Mermaid_ arrived
off Staten Island, the eastern extremity of which she sighted at
daylight on a cold, bleak morning some ten weeks after the date when
Leslie and Miss Trevor had become members of her ship's company. The
weather had, in the interim, been fine upon the whole, with occasional
calms and contrary winds; but, taking everything into consideration,
Leslie felt that they had done by no means badly.

On this especial morning, however, appearances seemed to point to the
probability that they were about to experience an unpleasant taste of
typical Cape Horn weather. The sky was gloomy and overcast, the entire
firmament being obscured by a thick pall of cold, leaden-hued cloud
lying in horizontal layers, and presenting the appearance described by
sailors as "greasy"--an a