Part 14 (1/2)

But the breeze was feeble and irregular. It only came in short puffs.

Most certainly, the ”Pilgrim” would have some trouble in joining the whale-boat, if indeed she could reach it. Meanwhile, as they had foreseen, the jubarte had returned to the surface of the water to breathe, with the harpoon fixed in her side all the time. She then remained almost motionless, seeming to wait for her young whale, which this furious course must have left behind.

Captain Hull made use of the oars so as to join her again, and soon he was only a short distance from her.

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?”

”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. 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!”

The jubarte, in fact, had turned in such a manner as to present herself in front of the whale-boat. Then, beating the sea violently with her enormous fins, she rushed forward.

The boatswain, who expected this direct blow, turned in such a fas.h.i.+on that the jubarte pa.s.sed by the boat, but without reaching it.

Captain Hull and the two sailors gave her three vigorous thrusts on the pa.s.sage, seeking to strike some vital organ.

The jubarte stopped, and, throwing to a great height two columns of water mingled with blood, she turned anew on the boat, bounding, so to say, in a manner frightful to witness.

These seamen must have been expert fishermen, not to lose their presence of mind on this occasion.

Howik again skilfully avoided the jubarte's attack, by darting the boat aside.

Three new blows, well aimed, again gave the animal three new wounds.

But, in pa.s.sing, she struck the water so roughly with her formidable tail, that an enormous wave arose, as if the sea were suddenly opened.

The whale-boat almost capsized, and, the water rus.h.i.+ng in over the side, it was half filled.

”The bucket, the bucket!” cried Captain Hull.

The two sailors, letting go their oars, began to bale out the boat rapidly, while the captain cut the line, now become useless.

No! the animal, rendered furious by grief, no longer dreamt of flight.