xperienced eye soon
detected it.

[Illustration]

"It's gone," said the doctor.

"We could soon find it again, if it were necessary," said Simpson,
regretfully.

But to his great surprise, although no one had dared to ask it,
Hatteras gave the order to lower and man the whale-boat; he was glad
to give the men some distraction, and also to get a few barrels of
oil. They heard the order with great satisfaction.

Four sailors took their places in the whale-boat; Johnson took the
helm; Simpson stood in the bow, harpoon in hand. The doctor insisted
on joining the party. The sea was quite smooth. The whale-boat went
very fast, and in about ten minutes she was a mile from the brig.

The whale, having taken another breath, had dived again; but soon it
came up and projected fifteen feet into the air that combination of
gases and mucous fluid which escapes from its vent-holes.

"There, there!" cried Simpson, pointing to a place about eight hundred
yards from the boat.

They approached it rapidly; and the brig, having also seen it, drew
near slowly.

The huge monster kept appearing above the waves, showing its black
back, which resembled a great rock in the sea; a whale never swims
rapidly unless pursued, and this one was letting itself be rocked by
the waves.

The hunters approached in silence, choosing the green water, which was
so opaque as to prevent the whale from seeing them. It is always
exciting to watch a frail boat attacking one of these monsters; this
one was about one hundred and thirty feet long, and often between
latitude 72 degrees and 80 degrees whales are found more than one
hundred and twenty-four feet long; ancient writers have often spoken
of some longer than seven hundred feet, but they are imaginary
animals.

Soon the boat was very near the whale. Simpson made a sign, the men
stopped rowing, and, brandishing his harpoon, he hurled it skilfully;
this, with sharp barbs, sank into the thick layers of fat. The wounded
whale dived rapidly. At once the four oars were unshipped; the rope
which was attached to the harpoon ran out rapidly, and the boat was
dragged along while Johnson steered it skilfully.

The whale swam away from the brig and hastened towards the moving
icebergs; for half an hour it went on in this way; the cord had to be
kept wet to prevent its taking fire from friction. When the animal
seemed to go more slowly, the rope was dragged back and carefully
coiled; the whale rose again t