English
Atthisshouttheentirecrewrushedtowardtheharpooner—commander,officers,mates,
sailors,cabinboys,downtoengineersleavingtheirmachineryandstokersneglectingtheirfurnaces.Theorderwasgiventostop,andthefrigatemerelycoasted.
Bythenthedarknesswasprofound,andasgoodastheCanadian'seyeswere,Istillwonderedhowhecouldsee—andwhathehadseen.Myheartwaspoundingfittoburst.
ButNedLandwasnotmistaken,andweallspottedtheobjecthishandwasindicating.
TwocablelengthsofftheAbrahamLincoln'sstarboardquarter,theseaseemedtobelitupfromunderneath.
Thiswasnomerephosphorescentphenomenon,thatmuchwasunmistakable.
Submergedsomefathomsbelowthesurfaceofthewater,themonstergaveoffthatveryintensebutinexplicableglowthatseveralcaptainshadmentionedintheirreports.
Thismagnificentradiancehadtocomefromsomeforcewithagreatilluminatingcapacity.
Theedgeofitslightsweptovertheseainanimmense,highlyelongatedoval,condensingatthecenterintoablazingcorewhoseunbearableglowdiminishedby°outward.
"It'sonlyaclusterofphosphorescentparticles!"exclaimedoneoftheofficers.
"No,sir,"Iansweredwithconviction."Notevenangel–wingclamsorsalpshaveevergivenoffsuchapowerfullight.
Thatglowisbasicallyelectricinnature.Besides...look,look!It'sshifting!It'smovingbackandforth!It'sdartingatus!"
Auniversalshoutwentupfromthefrigate.
"Quiet!"CommanderFarragutsaid."Helmhardtoleeward!Reverseengines!"
Sailorsrushedtothehelm,engineerstotheirmachinery.Underreversesteamimmediately,theAbrahamLincolnbeattoport,sweepinginasemicircle.
"Rightyourhelm!Enginesforward!"CommanderFarragutcalled.
Theseorderswereexecuted,andthefrigateswiftlyretreatedfromthiscoreoflight.
Mymistake.Itwantedtoretreat,buttheunearthlyanimalcameatuswithaspeeddoubleourown.
Wegasped.Morestunnedthanafraid,westoodmuteandmotionless.
Theanimalcaughtupwithus,playedwithus.
Itmadeafullcirclearoundthefrigate—thendoingfourteenknots—andwrappedusinsheetsofelectricitythatwerelikeluminousdust.
Thenitretreatedtwoorthreemiles,leavingaphosphorescenttrailcomparabletothoseswirlsofsteamthatshootbehindthelocomotiveofanexpresstrain.
Suddenly,allthewayfromthedarkhorizonwhereithadgonetogathermomentum,themonsterabruptlydashedtowardtheAbrahamLincolnwithfrighteningspeed,stoppedsharplytwentyfeetfromoursideplates,anddiedout—notbydivingunderthewater,sinceitsglowdidnotrecedegradually—butallatonce,asifthesourceofthisbrilliantemanationhadsuddenlydriedup.
Thenitreappearedontheothersideoftheship,eitherbycirclingaroundusorbyglidingunderourhull.
Atanyinstantacollisioncouldhaveoccurredthatwouldhavebeenfataltous.
MeanwhileIwasastonishedatthefrigate'smaneuvers.Itwasfleeing,notfighting.
Builttopursue,itwasbeingpursued,andIcommentedonthistoCommanderFarragut.
Hisface,ordinarilysoemotionless,wasstampedwithindescribableastonishment.
"ProfessorAronnax,"heansweredme,"Idon'tknowwhatkindoffearsomecreatureI'mupagainst,andIdon'twantmyfrigaterunningfoolishrisksinallthisdarkness.
Besides,howshouldweattackthisunknowncreature,howshouldwedefendourselvesagainstit?
Let'swaitfordaylight,andthenwe'llplayadifferentrole."
"You'venofurtherdoubts,commander,astothenatureofthisanimal?"
"No,sir,it'sapparentlyagiganticnarwhale,andanelectriconetoboot."
"Maybe,"Iadded,"it'snomoreapproachablethananelectriceeloranelectricray!"
"Right,"thecommanderreplied."Andifithastheirpowertoelectrocute,it'ssurelythemostdreadfulanimaleverconceivedbyourCreator.That'swhyI'llkeeponmyguard,sir."
Thewholecrewstayedontheirfeetallnightlong.Nooneeventhoughtofsleeping.
Unabletocompetewiththemonster'sspeed,theAbrahamLincolnsloweddownandstayedathalfsteam.
Foritspart,thenarwhalemimickedthefrigate,simplyrodewiththewaves,andseemeddeterminednottoforsakethefieldofbattle.
However,nearmidnightitdisappeared,ortouseamoreappropriateexpression,"itwentout,"likeahugeglowworm.Haditfledfromus?
Weweredutyboundtofearsoratherthanhopeso.
Butat12:53inthemorning,adeafeninghissbecameaudible,resemblingthesoundmadebyawaterspoutexpelledwithtremendousintensity.
BythenCommanderFarragut,NedLand,andIwereontheafterdeck,peeringeagerlyintotheprofoundgloom.
"NedLand,"thecommanderasked,"you'veoftenheardwhalesbellowing?"
"Often,sir,butneverawhalelikethis,whosesightingearnedme$2,000.00."
"Correct,theprizeisrightfullyyours.Buttellme,isn'tthatthenoisecetaceansmakewhentheyspurtwaterfromtheirblowholes?"
"Theverynoise,sir,butthisone'swaylouder.Sotherecanbenomistake.
There'sdefinitelyawhalelurkinginourwaters.
Withyourpermission,sir,"theharpooneradded,"tomorrowatdaybreakwe'llhavewordswithit."
"Ifit'sinamoodtolistentoyou,Mr.Land,"Irepliedinatonefarfromconvinced.
"Letmegetwithinfourharpoonlengthsofit,"theCanadianshotback,"andithadbetterlisten!"
"Buttogetnearit,"thecommanderwenton,"I'dhavetoputawhaleboatatyourdisposal?"
"Certainly,sir."
"Thatwouldbegamblingwiththelivesofmymen."
"Andwithmyown!"theharpoonerrepliedsimply.
Neartwoo'clockinthemorning,thecoreoflightreappeared,nolessintense,fivemilestowindwardoftheAbrahamLincoln.
Despitethedistance,despitethenoiseofwindandsea,wecoulddistinctlyhearthefearsomethrashingsoftheanimal'stail,andevenitspantingbreath.
Seemingly,themomentthisenormousnarwhalecameuptobreatheatthesurfaceoftheocean,airwassuckedintoitslungslikesteamintothehugecylindersofa2,000–horsepowerengine.
"Hmm!"Isaidtomyself."Acetaceanaspowerfulasawholecavalryregiment—nowthat'sawhaleofawhale!"
Westayedonthealertuntildaylight,gettingreadyforaction.
Whalinggearwassetupalongtherailings.
Ourchiefofficerloadedtheblunderbusses,whichcanlaunchharpoonsasfarasamile,andlongduckgunswithexplodingbulletsthatcanmortallywoundeventhemostpowerfulanimals.
NedLandwascontenttosharpenhisharpoon,adreadfulweaponinhishands.
Atsixo'clockdaybegantobreak,andwiththedawn'searlylight,thenarwhale'selectricglowdisappeared.
Atseveno'clockthedaywaswellalong,butaverydensemorningmistshrankthehorizon,andourbestspyglasseswereunabletopierceit.Theoutcome:disappointmentandanger.
Ihoistedmyselfuptothecrosstreesofthemizzensail.Someofficerswerealreadyperchedonthemastheads.
Ateighto'clockthemistrolledponderouslyoverthewaves,anditshugecurlswereliftinglittlebylittle.Thehorizongrewwiderandclearerallatonce.
Suddenly,justasonthepreviousevening,NedLand'svoicewasaudible.
"There'sthethinginquestion,asterntoport!"theharpoonershouted.
Everyeyelookedtowardthepointindicated.
There,amileandahalffromthefrigate,alongblackishbodyemergedameterabovethewaves.
Quiveringviolently,itstailwascreatingaconsiderableeddy.
Neverhadcaudalequipmentthrashedtheseawithsuchpower.
Animmensewakeofglowingwhitenessmarkedtheanimal'strack,sweepinginalongcurve.
Ourfrigatedrewnearertothecetacean.
Iexamineditwithacompletelyopenmind.
ThosereportsfromtheShannonandtheHelvetiahadslightlyexaggerateditsdimensions,andIputitslengthatonly250feet.
Itsgirthwasmoredifficulttojudge,butallinall,theanimalseemedtobewonderfullyproportionedinallthreedimensions.
WhileIwasobservingthisphenomenalcreature,twojetsofsteamandwatersprangfromitsblowholesandrosetoanaltitudeoffortymeters,whichsettledformeitsmodeofbreathing.
FromthisIfinallyconcludedthatitbelongedtothebranchVertebrata,classMammalia,subclassMonodelphia,groupPisciforma,orderCetacea,family...buthereIcouldn'tmakeupmymind.
TheorderCetaceaconsistsofthreefamilies,baleenwhales,spermwhales,dolphins,andit'sinthislastgroupthatnarwhalesareplaced.
Eachofthesefamiliesisdividedintoseveralgenera,eachgenusintospecies,eachspeciesintovarieties.
SoIwasstillmissingvariety,species,genus,andfamily,butnodoubtIwouldcompletemyclassifyingwiththeaidofHeavenandCommanderFarragut.
Thecrewwerewaitingimpatientlyforordersfromtheirleader.Thelatter,aftercarefullyobservingtheanimal,calledforhisengineer.Theengineerracedover.
"Sir,"thecommandersaid,"areyouuptopressure?"
"Aye,sir,"theengineerreplied.
"Fine.Stokeyourfurnacesandclaponfullsteam!"
Threecheersgreetedthisorder.Thehourofbattlehadsounded.Afewmomentslater,thefrigate'stwofunnelsvomitedtorrentsofblacksmoke,anditsdeckquakedfromthetremblingofitsboilers.
Drivenforwardbyitspowerfulpropeller,theAbrahamLincolnheadedstraightfortheanimal.
Unconcerned,thelatterletuscomewithinhalfacablelength;then,notbotheringtodive,itgotupalittlespeed,retreated,andwascontenttokeepitsdistance.
Thischasedraggedonforaboutthree–quartersofanhourwithoutthefrigategainingtwofathomsonthecetacean.Atthisrate,itwasobviousthatwewouldnevercatchupwithit.
Infuriated,CommanderFarragutkepttwistingthethicktuftofhairthatflourishedbelowhischin.
"NedLand!"hecalled.
TheCanadianreportedatonce.
"Well,Mr.Land,"thecommanderasked,"doyoustilladviseputtingmylongboatstosea?"
"No,sir,"NedLandreplied,"becausethatbeastwon'tbecaughtagainstitswill."
"Thenwhatshouldwedo?"
"Stokeupmoresteam,sir,ifyoucan.Asforme,withyourpermissionI'llgoperchonthebobstaysunderthebowsprit,andifwecangetwithinaharpoonlength,I'llharpoonthebrute."
"Gotoit,Ned,"CommanderFarragutreplied."Engineer,"hecalled,"keepthepressuremounting!"
NedLandmadehiswaytohispost.Thefurnaceswereurgedintogreateractivity;ourpropellerdidforty–threerevolutionsperminute,andsteamshotfromthevalves.
Heavingthelog,weverifiedthattheAbrahamLincolnwasgoingattherateof18.5milesperhour.
Butthatdamnedanimalalsodidaspeedof18.5.
Forthenexthourourfrigatekeptupthispacewithoutgainingafathom!
ThiswashumiliatingforoneofthefastestracersintheAmericannavy.
Thecrewwereworkingupintoablindrage.
Sailoraftersailorheavedinsultsatthemonster,whichcouldn'tbebotheredwithansweringback.
CommanderFarragutwasnolongercontentsimplytotwisthisgoatee;hechewedonit.
Theengineerwassummonedonceagain.
"You'reuptomaximumpressure?"thecommanderaskedhim.
"Aye,sir,"theengineerreplied.
"Andyourvalvesarechargedto...?"
"Tosixandahalfatmospheres."
"Chargethemtotenatmospheres."
AtypicalAmericanorderifIeverheardone.ItwouldhavesoundedjustfineduringsomeMississippipaddle–wheelerrace,to"outstripthecompetition!"
"Conseil,"Isaidtomygallantservant,nowatmyside,"yourealizethatwe'llprobablyblowourselvesskyhigh?"
"Asmasterwishes!"Conseilreplied.
Allright,Iadmitit:Ididwishtorunthisrisk!
Thevalveswerecharged.Morecoalwasswallowedbythefurnaces.
Ventilatorsshottorrentsofairoverthebraziers.TheAbrahamLincoln'sspeedincreased.
Itsmaststrembleddowntotheirblocks,andswirlsofsmokecouldbarelysqueezethroughthenarrowfunnels.
Weheavedthelogasecondtime.
"Well,helmsman?"CommanderFarragutasked.
"19.3milesperhour,sir."
"Keepstokingthefurnaces."
Theengineerdidso.Thepressuregaugemarkedtenatmospheres.Butnodoubtthecetaceanitselfhad"warmedup,"becausewithouttheleasttrouble,italsodid19.3.
Whatachase!No,Ican'tdescribetheexcitementthatshookmyverybeing.NedLandstayedathispost,harpooninhand.Severaltimestheanimalletusapproach.
"We'reoverhaulingit!"theCanadianwouldshout.
Then,justashewasabouttostrike,thecetaceanwouldstealoffwithaswiftnessIcouldestimateatnolessthanthirtymilesperhour.
Andevenatourmaximumspeed,ittookthelibertyofthumbingitsnoseatthefrigatebyrunningafullcirclearoundus!Ahowloffuryburstfromeverythroat!
Bynoonwewerenofartheralongthanateighto'clockinthemorning.
CommanderFarragutthendecidedtousemoredirectmethods.
"Bah!"hesaid."SothatanimalisfasterthantheAbrahamLincoln.Allright,we'llseeifitcanoutrunourconicalshells!Mate,mantheguninthebow!"
Ourforecastlecannonwasimmediatelyloadedandleveled.Thecannoneerfiredashot,buthisshellpassedsomefeetabovethecetacean,whichstayedhalfamileoff.
"Overtosomebodywithbetteraim!"thecommandershouted."And$500.00tothemanwhocanpiercethatinfernalbeast!"
Calmofeye,cooloffeature,anoldgray–beardedgunner—Icanseehimtothisday—approachedthecannon,putitinposition,andtookaimforagoodwhile.
Therewasamightyexplosion,mingledwithcheersfromthecrew.
Theshellreacheditstarget;ithittheanimal,butnotintheusualfashion—itbouncedoffthatroundedsurfaceandvanishedintotheseatwomilesout.
"Ohdrat!"saidtheoldgunnerinhisanger."Thatrascalmustbecoveredwithsix–incharmorplate!"
"Cursethebeast!"CommanderFarragutshouted.
Thehuntwasonagain,andCommanderFarragutleanedovertome,saying:
"I'llchasethatanimaltillmyfrigateexplodes!"
"Yes,"Ireplied,"andnobodywouldblameyou!"
Wecouldstillhopethattheanimalwouldtireoutandnotbeasinsensitivetoexhaustionasoursteamengines.Butnosuchluck.
Hourafterhourwentbywithoutitshowingtheleastsignofweariness.
However,totheAbrahamLincoln'scredit,itmustbesaidthatwestruggledonwithtirelesspersistence.
Iestimatethatwecoveredadistanceofatleast500kilometersduringthisill–fateddayofNovember6.
Butnightfellandwrappedthesurgingoceaninitsshadows.
BythenIthoughtourexpeditionhadcometoanend,thatwewouldneverseethisfantasticanimalagain.Iwasmistaken.
At10:50intheevening,thatelectriclightreappearedthreemilestowindwardofthefrigate,justasclearandintenseasthenightbefore.
Thenarwhaleseemedmotionless.Wasitasleepperhaps,wearyfromitsworkday,justridingwiththewaves?Thiswasourchance,andCommanderFarragutwasdeterminedtotakefulladvantageofit.
Hegavehisorders.TheAbrahamLincolnstayedathalfsteam,advancingcautiouslysoasnottoawakenitsadversary.
Inmidoceanit'snotunusualtoencounterwhalessosoundasleeptheycansuccessfullybeattacked,andNedLandhadharpoonedmorethanoneinitsslumber.
TheCanadianwenttoresumehispostonthebobstaysunderthebowsprit.
Thefrigateapproachedwithoutmakingasound,stoppedtwocablelengthsfromtheanimalandcoasted.Notasoulbreathedonboard.
Aprofoundsilencereignedoverthedeck.
Wewerenot100feetfromtheblazingcoreoflight,whoseglowgrewstrongeranddazzledtheeyes.
Justthen,leaningovertheforecastlerailing,IsawNedLandbelowme,onehandgraspingthemartingale,theotherbrandishinghisdreadfulharpoon.
Barelytwentyfeetseparatedhimfromthemotionlessanimal.
Allatoncehisarmshotforwardandtheharpoonwaslaunched.Iheardtheweaponcollideresonantly,asifithadhitsomehardsubstance.
Theelectriclightsuddenlywentout,andtwoenormouswaterspoutscrashedontothedeckofthefrigate,racinglikeatorrentfromstemtostern,topplingcrewmen,breakingsparemastsandyardarmsfromtheirlashings.
Ahideouscollisionoccurred,andthrownovertherailwithnotimetocatchholdofit,Iwashurledintothesea.
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