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Updated: May 19, 2025
"Yes," replied Howik, grasping his oar firmly in his large hands. "Alongside! alongside!" The boatswain obeyed the order, and the whale-boat came within less than ten feet of the animal. The latter no longer moved, and seemed asleep. Whales thus surprised while asleep offer an easier prize, and it often happens that the first blow which is given wounds them mortally.
"You wish to speak to me?" asked Dick Sand. "I wish to speak to Captain Hull," replied Negoro, coolly, "or, in his absence, to boatswain Howik." "You know well that both have perished!" cried the novice. "Then who commands on board now?" asked Negoro, very insolently. "I," replied Dick Sand, without hesitation. "You!" said Negoro, shrugging his shoulders. "A captain of fifteen years?"
But he then perceived that in his fall his stern oar had broken in the middle. "Another oar!" said Captain Hull. "I have one," replied Howik. At that moment, a bubbling took place under the waters only a few fathoms from the boat. The young whale had just reappeared. The jubarte saw it, and rushed towards it. This circumstance could only give a more terrible character to the contest.
The wind was going down, and the "Pilgrim" would only drift in an insensible manner while her crew were occupied in the offing. So the starboard whale-boat was immediately lowered, and the four sailors went into it. Howik passed them two of those long spears which serve as harpoons, then two long lances with sharp points.
Two oars were laid down and two sailors armed themselves, as the captain had done, with long lances, intended to strike the enemy. Howik worked skilfully then, and held himself ready to make the boat turn rapidly, in case the whale should turn suddenly on it. "Attention!" cried Captain Hull. "Do not lose a blow! Aim well, boys! Are we ready, Howik?"
Her young one was no longer near her; perhaps she was trying to find it again. Suddenly she made a movement with her tail, which took her thirty feet away. Was she then going to take flight again, and must they take up this interminable pursuit again on the surface of the waters? "Attention!" cried Captain Hull. "The beast is going to take a spring and throw herself on us. Steer, Howik, steer!"
"I am prepared, sir," replied the boatswain, "but one thing troubles me. It is that the beast, after having fled so rapidly, is very quiet now." "In fact, Howik, that seems to me suspicious. Let us be careful!" "Yes, but let us go forward." Captain Hull grew more and more animated. The boat drew still nearer. The jubarte only turned in her place.
However, he had the stern-boat lowered from its pegs, and towed it along, so that the captain and his companions might take refuge in it, in case of need. At that moment the jubarte, covering the young whale with her body, had returned to the charge. This time she turned in such a manner as to reach the boat exactly. "Attention, Howik!" cried Captain Hull, for the last time.
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