ways clinging with every ounce of energy still left, to the
line. Now, one thought was uppermost--"What if he should breach?" I had
seen them do so when in flurry, leaping full twenty feet in the air.
Then I prayed.

Quickly as all the preceding changes had passed came perfect peace.
There I lay, still alive, but so weak that, although I could feel the
turns slipping off my arms, and knew that I should slide off the slope
of the whale's side into the sea if they did, I could make no effort
to secure myself. Everything then passed away from me, just as if I had
gone to sleep.

I do not at all understand how I kept my position, nor how long, but
I awoke to the blessed sound of voices, and saw the second mate's
boat alongside, Very gently and tenderly they lifted me into the boat,
although I could hardly help screaming with agony when they touched me,
so bruised and broken up did I feel. My arms must have been nearly torn
from their sockets, for the strands of the whale-line had cut deep
into their flesh with the strain upon it, while my thigh was swollen
enormously from the blow I received at the onset. Mr. Cruce was the most
surprised man I think I ever saw. For full ten minutes he stared at me
with wide-open eyes. When at last he spoke, it was with difficulty, as
if wanting words to express his astonishment. At last he blurted out,
"Whar you bin all de time, ennyhaow? 'Cawse ef you bin hangin' on to dat
ar wale ev'sence you boat smash, w'y de debbil you hain't all ter bits,
hey?" I smiled feebly, but was too weak to talk, and presently went off
again into a dead faint.

When I recovered, I was snug in my bunk aboard, but aching in every
joint, and as sore as if I had been pounded with a club until I was
bruised all over. During the day Mr. Count was kind enough to pay me a
visit. With his usual luck, he had escaped without the slightest injury;
neither was any other member of the boat's crew the worse for the
ducking but myself. He told me that the whale was one of the largest
he had ever seen, and as fat as butter. The boat was an entire loss, so
completely smashed to pieces that nothing of her or her gear had been
recovered. After spending about a quarter of an hour with me, he left me
considerably cheered up, promising to look after me in the way of food,
and also to send me some books. He told me that I need not worry
myself about my inability to be at work, because the old man was not
unfavourably disposed towar